Economic Drivers
This economic theory, popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries, emphasized the accumulation of wealth through trade surpluses and colonies.
Mercantilism
This concept, popularized by Rudyard Kipling, justified imperialism as a moral obligation to "civilize" non-European peoples.
White Man's Burden
This invention, which dramatically improved communication over long distances, facilitated imperial control.
Telegraph
This rebellion in India, triggered by the use of controversial rifle cartridges, challenged British rule.
Sepoy Rebellion
This term describes areas in China where foreign powers held exclusive trading and economic rights.
Spheres of Influence
The need for these, to fuel industrial production, was a major economic motive for imperial expansion.
Raw materials
This pseudo-scientific theory, based on Darwin's ideas, was used to justify racial hierarchies and European dominance.
Social Darwinism
This drug, derived from the cinchona tree, helped Europeans combat malaria in tropical regions.
Quinine
This conflict in southern Africa pitted the British against Dutch settlers and indigenous peoples.
Boer War
This conference, held in 1884-85, formalized the division of Africa among European powers.
The Berlin Conference
This treaty, following the Opium Wars, granted Britain extensive trading rights in China, including control of Hong Kong.
Treaty of Nanjing/Nanking
This philosophical movement, arising in response to imperialism, emphasized the right of nations to self-determination.
This type of gun, which allowed for rapid and sustained fire, gave European armies a significant advantage.
Maxim Gun
This rebellion in China, led by a charismatic religious leader, sought to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.
Taiping Rebellion
This policy, promoted by the United States, aimed to maintain open trade in China
Open Door Policy
This term describes the economic system where a less-developed country is dependent on exporting raw materials to a more developed country.
Dependence Theory
This philosophy, prevalent in the 19th century, emphasized the superiority of European culture and values.
Eurocentrism
The development of this type of transportation allowed for the rapid movement of troops and goods to inland areas.
Railroad Lines
This African leader successfully resisted Italian attempts to colonize Ethiopia
Menelik II
This country, under Leopold II, established a brutal regime in the Congo Free State
Belgium
This system of forced labor, prevalent in the Belgian Congo, was used to extract rubber and other resources.
The Congo Free State System
This religious movement, active in Africa and Asia, often intertwined with imperial expansion.
Christian Missionary/Evangelism
The creation of this man made water way dramatically shortened the travel time between Europe and Asia.
Suez
This rebellion in the Phillipines was a response to spanish and then american Imperialism.
Phillipine American War
This territory, in Southeast Asia, became a key possession of France, forming part of French Indochina.
Vietnam