Unit 6 Topic 2: Imperialism in Africa and Asia
Imperialism, the process by which one nation extends its influence and power over another through diplomacy or force, significantly impacted Africa and Asia during this period. The effects of imperialism from 1750-1900 were profound and long-lasting, reshaping the political, economic, and social landscapes of colonized regions.
In Africa, European influence had been growing since the 1800s, driven by the increasing demand for raw materials. The British sought to establish a shorter sea route to their Asian trading posts, leading to the construction of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the subsequent seizure of control from the Ottomans in 1882.
Example: The Scramble for Africa, initiated by Otto von Bismarck of Germany, led to the Berlin Conference in 1884, where European powers drew colonial boundaries that often disregarded existing African political and ethnic divisions.
Highlight: Belgium's King Leopold II's brutal rule in the Congo resulted in the deaths of approximately 8 million people due to forced labor and harsh policies.
In Asia, the British East India Company expanded its territory at the expense of the Mughal Empire, employing both its own troops and Indian soldiers (sepoys). China faced economic imperialism from European powers, who carved the country into spheres of influence while nominally leaving the Qing dynasty in power.
Vocabulary: Spheres of influence were areas where foreign powers held exclusive trading rights and exerted significant political control without formal colonization.
Japan, following the Meiji Restoration, became a colonizer itself, expanding into Korea, Southeast Asia, and parts of China in search of raw materials and new markets.
The Dutch established power in Southeast Asia through the Dutch East India Company, while the British colonized Australia (initially as a penal colony) and New Zealand, leading to conflicts with the indigenous Maori people.
