19th Century European Imperialism Overview

Sep 23, 2024

Crash Course European History: 19th Century Imperialism

Overview

  • Presenter: John Green
  • Time Period Covered: 19th Century
  • Key Themes: European nation-building, expansion of overseas empires, contradictions in rights, and colonialism.

Main Topics

European Nation Building and Expansion

  • Nation-Building: Grounded in rule of law and constitutional guarantees.
  • Contradiction in Rights: Expansion involved denying rights to colonized peoples.

European Imperial Expansion

  • Regions of Focus: Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands.
  • Motivations: Trading advantages, acquisition of raw materials like palm oil.
  • Political Control: Firm control established in territories like India, North Africa, Australia.

British Imperialism in India

  • Trade Loss Compensation: Expansion in India to compensate for loss in North America.
  • Opium Wars: British smuggling of opium into China leading to two wars forcing trade ports open.

Other European Powers

  • French, British, and Dutch: Set up plantations and took resources in Africa, Asia, and Pacific.
  • Belgian King Leopold: Exploited the Congo for rubber resources.

Tools of Empire

  • Industrial Tools: Steamships, railroads, weaponry to maintain control.
  • Medical Tools: Quinine from cinchona bark for malaria treatment.
  • Infrastructure: Built to extract resources rather than benefit locals.

Resistance and Rebellion

  • Indian Rebellion of 1857: Led by Rani Lakshmi Bai against British rule.
  • Reproductive Resistance: Decline in births as a form of resistance against colonial oppression.

Local Prosperity under Colonial Rule

  • Local Elites: Some prospered as business people and agents for colonizers.
  • Rabindranath Tagore: Example of success, winning Nobel Prize in Literature.

Justifications for Imperialism

  • Christianization and Civilization: Initially used as a moral justification.
  • Social Darwinism: Post-Darwin, justification shifted to survival of the fittest.

Lasting Impacts and Tensions

  • Berlin Conference of 1884-1885: Attempted to regulate African colonization.
  • International Tensions: Increased competition and tensions leading to World War.

Conclusion

  • Imperialism's Legacy: Continues to impact global dynamics and racial attitudes today.

Reflection

  • Shift in Perspective: Consider the impact on those negatively affected by imperialism.