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The Building of Global Empires
I.
II.
Foundations of Empire
A.
Definition of Imperialism
1.
imperialism refers to the domination of European powers over subject lands
2.
resulted from trade, business, and other commercial activities
3.
direct political control not always necessary
B.
Definition of Colonialism
1.
the exportation of social, political, economic and cultural structures
2.
new structures supplanted indigenous or traditional structures
3.
subject lands were integrated into the larger network of global capitalism
C.
Motives of Imperialism
1.
economic benefits to imperial nation (raw materials for industry, markets)
2.
a place for excess population to migrate
3.
political benefits (keeping harbors and ports from rivals)
4.
cultural justification (spreading Christianity, “White Man’s Burden”)
D.
Tools of Empire
1.
gunpowder and mass production of advanced tools and weapons
2.
rifles, machine guns, Maxim gun, ship artillery
3.
steamship and railroad
4.
new canals such as Suez in 1869 and Panama in 1914 lowered the cost of trade
and allowed Europeans to travel anywhere more rapidly
5.
communication technology beginning with the telegraph meant rapid response in
business, military mobilization
The British Empire in India
A.
British East India Company
1.
active in mercantile activity in India beginning in the 17th century
2.
ports established along the coast to warehouse and move goods to Asia
3.
pepper, spices, silk, coffee, porcelain, coffee, tea, and opium
4.
fall of the Mughal Empire led to expansion of commercial interests
B.
The Sepoy Rebellion (1857)
1.
local Indian troops (sepoys) trained to protect economic interests
2.
military directive over cartridge coverings offensive to Hindus and Muslims
3.
revolt became open rebellion joined by elites and peasants led to slaughter of
British officers and families
4.
Britain crushed the rebellion and established direct imperial rule
5.
Queen Victoria administered through a British staffed civil service
C.
Effects
1.
transformed land and farming, built infrastructure (railroads, canals, etc.)
2.
built English-style schools, suppressed Indian traditions
3.
made Britain very wealthy
III.
IV.
Central Asia and Southeast Asia
A.
Russian Aggression
1.
weakened Ottoman and Qing Empires allowed Russia to extend south
2.
gained control of caravan cities on old silk roads
3.
competition led to spying, mapping, and exploration in the “great game”
B.
Southeast Asia
1.
Spain gained control of the Philippines in 16th century
2.
Dutch gained wealth from products of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)
3.
Singapore was base of British conquest of Malay which led to control of shipping
lanes linking the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea
C.
French Indochina
1.
lands included Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos
2.
used education to train local elites and gain support
3.
active and successful in attempts to convert natives to Christianity
4.
Roman Catholicism became prominent in Vietnam
5.
Siam (Thailand) remained free and was a buffer between French and English
The Scramble for Africa
A.
Exploration
1.
until 19th century, interior of Africa unknown
2.
interest revolved around gold, ivory and palm oil traded for textiles, guns
3.
by 1900 most of the continent was partitioned and colonized by Europeans
4.
geographic knowledge came from people like Dr. David Livingstone, Henry
Morton Stanley, Richard Burton, John Speke, and Mungo Park
5.
knowledge of the river systems brought rapid colonization
6.
King Leopold of Belgium exploited the Congo until Belgium took control
7.
Muhammad Ali’s attempt to overthrow the Ottomans brought Egypt and the Suez
Canal under control of the British in order to protect financial interests
8.
British subdued Sudan at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898
B.
The Boer Wars
1.
Cecil Rhodes had become Prime Minister of Cape Colony ; principal sponsor of
the Cape-to Cairo dream where Britain would dominate the continent
2.
diamonds and gold were discovered in the Transvaal and Rhodes wanted to
extend his influence there but region controlled by Afrikaners or Boers
(descendents of Dutch settlers)
3.
abolition of slavery led Boers on the “Great Trek” to look for land and labor
4.
Zulus and Ndebele resisted by defeated by the “voortrekkers”
5.
British viewed Boers as defiant and massive British force defeated Boers
6.
in 1910 the Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony, & Natal combined to form
the Union of South Africa
C.
The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885
1.
defining political event for the partition of Africa
2.
led by Otto von Bismarck, spelled out the rules for dividing and colonizing Africa
among European nations
3.
no African nation was represented
4.
only Ethiopia and Liberia remained independent of control