HIST 1115 Lecture Notes - Proletariat, Military History Of South Africa, Bourgeoisie
History 1115 -Theories of Imperialism
Empires
British- The largest empire of ALL the European powers
“The sun never sets on the British Empire”
Scattered entities that are ruled by a single power
oIn some places, the British ruled directly (ex. India)
oThey also would sometimes rule through a local ruler (ex. In Egypt and
Africa)
oThey also had diplomatic control over empires (ex. Canada- they had
independence in 1867 but they still had to go to war with the British)
New Imperialism
Sometimes places would claim/colonize places that are empires themselves (ex.
China)
Some empires already had empires before the age of New imperialism
oEx. Britain- India, Canada
They now had the ability to take over countries more easily thanks to technology
oThe steam ship, automatic guns
oThis allowed them to get up African rivers and move more quickly
oThey had new medication (malaria cure)
oThey had the telegram
Sees whole sectors dependant on resources that come from other places, so the
Europeans felt they had to control the other places so they were guaranteed a
supply
oEx. Timber, Iron, Sugar, Cotton, Oil, Rubber, Tin
oThey also need to be certain that they can get enough food, they were
making only 30% of their food
Europeans had to begin to sell to other countries because they can’t sell
everything that they have made in Europe alone
oEx. They sold fabrics and cotton from Brittan to India
Often people would establish a business in a country and eventually they would
be able to colonize the country because the natives of the country would want
protection or something
Countries were scrambling to colonize countries throughout the world, especially
in Africa
Theoretical Explanations
British
Cecil Rhodes:
oConservative
They wanted certainty that the country would be successful
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Document Summary
British- the largest empire of all the european powers. The sun never sets on the british empire . Scattered entities that are ruled by a single power: in some places, the british ruled directly (ex. India: they also would sometimes rule through a local ruler (ex. Africa: they also had diplomatic control over empires (ex. Canada- they had independence in 1867 but they still had to go to war with the british) Sometimes places would claim/colonize places that are empires themselves (ex. Some empires already had empires before the age of new imperialism: ex. Sees whole sectors dependant on resources that come from other places, so the. Europeans felt they had to control the other places so they were guaranteed a supply: ex. Timber, iron, sugar, cotton, oil, rubber, tin: they also need to be certain that they can get enough food, they were making only 30% of their food.
