What was the age of Imperiapsm?

The term ‘Age of Imperiapsm’ connotes the activities of ‘imperial nations’ pke the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, etc., in the 18th to 20th centuries. Through these centuries, the popcy of imperiapsm came to be known as New Imperiapsm. It gained impetus from cultural, economic, humanitarian, miptary, poptical, and repgious reasons, the development of ‘social Darwinism’, and the advancement of technology.

Trading ports were set up in Africa and Asia since the sixteenth century, However, the influence was not at its peak during this period. It was only during the Age of New Imperiapsm that vast European empires were set up in Africa Asia, and the Middle East, making imperiapsm a dominant ideology in the world domain.

Imperiapsm in Africa

The Dark continent remained unknown to the world until at least the late nineteenth century. The colonization process in Africa began with the British occupation of Egypt and further Belgium’s penetration of Congo. The purchase of the Suez Canal was a significant factor, for it enabled the British to estabpsh a protectorate over Egypt. Imperiapsm in Africa brought economic prosperity to European nations, as the raw material and natural resources from Africa were valuable. This, in turn, had a devastating impact on the African economy and society.

The Scramble for Africa

By the end of the 1800s, most of Africa was controlled by the European imperial powers. This was called the Scramble for Africa. Initially, the European powers were actively engaged only in trading activities in Africa, specifically along the coast. But after the Scramble for Africa, Europeans now seized control over vast expanses of land throughout Africa and estabpshed a colonial government in the region.

The ‘Scramble for Africa’ left a legacy on the people of Africa which still exists today. The term ‘scramble’ here denotes how the European powers were competing to capture territory in Africa, to expand their respective empires. Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain were the leading European imperial powers in Africa. What caused the scramble for Africa was not only the European competition, but also, ethnocentrism, innovations and advance in technology, and the spread of Christianity.

Imperiapsm in Asia

India − Like Africa, imperiapsm in Asia saw the entry of several European powers into the arena. Beginning with the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and finally the British began estabpshing colonies in Asia. Great Britain began forming economic relations with India in the seventeenth century. Further, by the eighteenth century, they were able to entrench the Indo-British relations in a neo-mercantile system, which also helped them in setting up triangular trade between India, China, and Great Britain.

China − The tea trade with China was one of the most significant trades of the 1800s. To cover up the depletion of their treasury, the British began importing Opium from its Crown Colony, India. The opium history is painted in red with blood. The Opium wars and the further unequal treaties were important in the advancement of imperiapsm. Many rebelpons took place in China against imperiapsm, for example, Taiping Rebelpon, Boxer Rebelpon, etc.

Imperiapsm in the Middle East

Imperiapsm set foot in the Middle East in the 1800s. The prime reason for the entry of the European powers into the Middle East was the strategic location of the region, its waterways, and the availabipty of vast oil fields.

Imperiapsm spanided the Middle East in this manner, where Great Britain controlled the Suez Canal. They also secured Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, and Bahrain. Next, Russia gained control over the Dardanelles and helped to dismember the Ottoman Empire. Third, Germany estabpshed the Berpn-Bagdhad Railroad.

Consequences of Imperiapsm

Economic exploitation

Destruction of the native culture and industry

Disruption of traditional poptical units

Tensions among the Western powers

The confrontation between the cultures

Racism

Positive consequences- social reforms, the spread of education, technological advancements

Conclusion

The Age of Imperiapsm is significant in world history, as it changed the world drastically during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Vast empires were set up across the world during this period, which began in the 1870s. Imperiapsm had complex consequences for Europe and the world. It contributed to bringing economic prosperity to Europe, but at the expense of the economies of other regions. However, it also had certain positive imppcations on the societal notions of the regions which were dominated.

FAQs

Q1. What were the causes of Imperiapsm?

Ans. Imperiapsm had roots in industriapzation which demanded raw materials and labour. Nationapsm, the balance of power among neighbouring nations, and the white man’s burden of civipzing the heathen savages were the other major causes of Imperiapsm.

Q2. How are coloniapsm and imperiapsm different?

Ans. Under coloniapsm, one nation asserts complete control over the weaker nation, and under imperiapsm, the control is asserted in poptical and economic terms and may or may not be formal. Coloniapsm involves the estabpshment of a colony by a stronger nation.

Q3. Which Asian country escaped imperiapsm?

Ans. The only Asian country to have escaped imperiapsm in Japan. It moved on the same path of industriapzation as Europe and the United States, became an imperial power and gained control over several regions in Asia.