Imperialism

Definition

The policy or practice of extending a nation's power by acquiring territories, establishing economic and political dominance over other peoples, or controlling resources abroad. European imperialism in the 19th and 20th centuries reshaped much of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Examples

  • The British Empire controlling India from the mid-1800s until 1947
  • The Scramble for Africa in the 1880s–1900s, where European powers divided the continent
  • The United States acquiring the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam after the Spanish-American War of 1898

Related Terms

Decolonization Industrialization Maritime empires European exploration

Study This Concept

Practice imperialism with free review games in these units:

AP World History: Modern Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization