Age of Imperialism
The term describing the policy of extending a country's political, economic and military control over other territories.
What is Imperialism?
The Cuban dictator overthrown during the Cuban Revolution.
Who was Fulgencio Batista?
The act of remembering and publicly marking an important person, event or period from the past.
What is commemoration?
An Argentine revolutionary who joined Castro and became an important figure in the Cuban Revolution.
Who was Che Guevara?
Name TWO motivations for European imperialism.
Economic; political; military; nationalism; ideological.
The rapid competition between European powers to acquire African territory during the late nineteenth century.
What was the "Scramble for Africa"?
The leader of Cuba following the revolution.
Who was Fidel Castro?
A way of presenting or portraying the past, such as through textbooks, films, museums, monuments or artwork.
What is historical representation?
Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian army, helping Ethiopia maintain its independence.
What is the Battle of Adwa (1896)?
What was Social Darwinism, and how was it used to justify imperialism?
Social Darwinism applied ideas about survival and competition to human societies and claimed that some races were naturally superior. Europeans used these ideas to justify controlling and "civilising" other peoples.
European powers established rules for claiming African territory and attempted to regulate their competition for Africa. African leaders were not represented, despite European powers making decisions about African territory.
What was the Berlin Conference (1884-85)?
Castro's revolutionary movement that sought to overthrow Batista's government.
What was the 26th of July Movement?
The way individuals or groups remember, understand and give meaning to events from the past.
What is historical memory?
Zulu forces defeated a much larger British force during the Anglo-Zulu War.
What happened at Isandlwana in 1879?
Why did the United States become increasingly hostile towards Castro's Cuba?
Castro nationalised American-owned businesses; Cuba developed closer relations with the USSR; Cuba became communist; the US feared the spread of communism in Latin America; Cuba's location was strategically important; the Bay of Pigs invasion increased tensions.
Explain TWO ways industrialisation encouraged European imperialism.
European industries needed raw materials; new markets for manufactured goods; improved technology made overseas conquest easier; industrial powers developed stronger weapons and transport; European economies sought new investment opportunities.
Failed attack which increased Castro's profile, demonstrated his opposition to Batista and became an important symbolic beginning of the revolutionary movement.
What was the Moncada Barracks attack (1953)?
Why might two different groups remember the same historical event differently?
Different experiences of the event; political beliefs; cultural backgrounds; access to historical evidence; governments may promote particular interpretations; some groups may have benefited from an event while others suffered.
He led Ethiopia during its resistance against Italian expansion and played a major role in the Ethiopian victory at Adwa.
Who was Emperor Menelik II?
Explain the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Cold War.
The crisis demonstrated how ideological competition between the USA and USSR could create a direct threat of nuclear war.
"European imperialism was driven more by ideas than economic interests." To what extent do you agree?
Economic motivations; Industrialisation; Raw materials and markets; Nationalism; Social Darwinism; "Civilising mission"; Strategic/military interests
Imperialism had multiple causes, rather than being driven by one factor.
Explain THREE reasons why Castro was able to overthrow Batista in 1959.
Batista's authoritarian rule created opposition; Corruption weakened Batista's legitimacy; Castro gained support among sections of the Cuban population; Guerrilla warfare was effective; Castro and his supporters used the Sierra Maestra as a base; Batista's military struggled to defeat the rebels; The United States withdrew support from Batista; Batista eventually fled Cuba.
Explain why monuments can become controversial representations of the past.
Monuments do not simply record history; they reflect decisions about who and what should be remembered. A monument may celebrate someone viewed as a hero by one group while another group sees that person as responsible for oppression or violence. As social values change, communities may debate whether monuments should remain, be removed, relocated or have their context changed.
Compare the experiences of Ethiopia and the Zulu Kingdom in responding to European imperialism.
Both resisted European expansion militarily. The Zulu famously defeated the British at Isandlwana but were eventually defeated and their kingdom dismantled. Ethiopia, under Menelik II, defeated Italy at Adwa and maintained its independence. Therefore, resistance could successfully challenge imperialism, but outcomes depended on military strength, leadership, resources and the wider political situation.
"The way history is remembered is influenced more by the present than by the past."
To what extent do you agree?
Consider historical evidence, political agendas, national identity, changing social values, government influence, monuments, museums, education, media, different perspectives, contested interpretations.