Transcript Imperialism - The Kidnapping of Nations

Imperialism - The Kidnapping of Nations
Reasons for
Imperialism
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Economic Interest
Political Interests
Military Interests
Humanitarian and
Religious Goals
• Economic Interests
– the Industrial Revolution created a need for
natural resources
– a need to expand trading markets
– colonies were an outlet for an expanding
population
• Political Interests
– rulers wanted the prestige of ruling a global
empire
• Military Interests
– the colonial power needed to protect their
economic interests and stop the expansion of
other European powers
Reasons for European Success
• western
nations had
superior
technology
• the
weakness
and
disunity of
nonwestern
states
Forms of Imperial Control
• Colonies – the ruling country would send out governors,
officials, and soldiers to control the people and transform
their society
• Protectorates – local rulers were left in place but they had
to follow the rules of the ruling country
• Spheres of Influence – an outside power would claim
exclusive investment and trading privileges with a certain
country or region
Criticism of Imperialism
• Western Nations were democratic at home but imposed
undemocratic ways on other people
Justification for
Imperialism
• Western Nations
believed they were
bringing “civilization”
to the “backwards
people” of Asia and
Africa
Charles Darwin
• Wrote the Origin of
the Species
Theory of Evolution
• This theory states that all life-forms including
humans have evolved from some “less highly
organized form”
Theory of Natural Selection
• “survival of the fittest”
- members of each
specie constantly
compete to survive
• natural forces select
those with with
physical traits best
adapted to their
environment to carry
on that specie
Social Darwinism
• Applying Darwin’s ideas to war and economics
• this encouraged racism - the belief that one racial group
is superior to the other
Imperialism - The Kidnapping of Nations
Game of Imperialism
• CHOOSE A COUNTRY
– You are to organize yourself into groups of three or four
– Within the groups, each person will select a Western nation –
England, France, the United States or Germany.
• BEGIN PLAY
– Play begins with each player rolling the die to see who goes first.
– The highest roll goes first – after the first turn rotate the player
who chooses a territory in a clockwise manner.
• HOW TO WIN TERRITORIES
– The player whose turn it is chooses a territory they want to
colonize. Each player will roll the die. Whoever rolls the highest
number wins control of the territory.
• TIE ROLLS
– If two or more players tie for the highest roll, they will roll again the highest number gets the territory.
– If no one rolls a 4,5, or 6 or if there is another tie for highest roll,
the territory remains independent.
• AFTER YOU WIN A TERRITORY: After a country is
colonized put the ruling countries name next to the area
conquered on the TERRITORIES TO CONQUER map.
• If an area remains independent – write independent on the
sheet – it can not be conquered now.
• Once a country is colonized it can not be reconquered.
• By colonizing a country you will receive the worth of that
conquered area
– Prestige Points for your growing empire
– GDP – Gross Domestic Production (your economy strengthens)
– Bonus Points (Bonus on Roll – you add the number of points to all
of your rolls – maximum of 2 points)
• HOW TO WIN
– Add up all of your Prestige Points and GDP Points - the
person with the most amount of points is the winner.
Ultimate Factors
Geography
East West Axis
Many suitable wild
species
Ease of species
spreading
Many domesticated plant and
animal species
Food surplus; food storage
Proximate Factors
Large, Dense, Sedentary,
Stratified Societies
Technology
Horses
Weapons
Ocean Going
Ships
Political Organization,
Writing
Disease
Why Europe? Why not the Middle East or China?
Disunity - Lack of an absolute
despot ruler for all of Europe
creates competition between the
many nation states of Europe
European culture
Development of merchant and
middle class
capitalism
patent protection for inventions
tradition of empirical inquiry
Ecological Suicide
Unity - one ruling
despot had the power to
stop innovation