Week 6: Age of Empire

Week 6Age of Empire

I. Overview: The “imperial” century

In 1800, Europe controlled about 35% of global landmass. By 1914, Europe ruled almost 85%.

How did this dominance come about?

Why did it end?

What legacies did it leave behind?

The long shadow of European imperialism

Laid foundations for present global society

Political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental repercussions throughout globe

Postcolonial era has transformed European society and politics

Exportation of nation-states, nationalism and all the problems therein to rest of world.

Imperialism and Colonialism

• Imperialism is the process by which an expanding state dominates territory, population, and resources of less powerful states of regions. Control is achieved indirectly through spheres of influence, legal or commercial privileges and concessions, other forms of dependence.

• Colonialism is a form of imperialism that involves the intensification of forms of domination. Characterized by direct military/administrative rule, settler emigration, and the systematic subordination of indigenous peoples.

“Old” vs “new” imperialism?

• Traditionally historians distinguished “old” imperialism from “new” imperialism.

• “Old” imperialism associated with Iberian conquests in 15th century and later conquests in 16-18th centuries by British, Dutch, and French. Revolutionary era led to erosion of old imperial orders, loss of British North America, French Canada, parts of Carribbean and Spanish America.

• “New” imperialism once dated from 1880s to WWI and associated with the “Scramble for Africa”. Historians now view it as longer period, from 1830s to 1930s.

What’s new about “new” imperialism?

• Industrialization: New technologies and medical knowledge allowed Europeans new access to territories in Asian and Africa. At same time, growing demands for raw materials and search for export markets feeds appetite for empire.

• Ideology: Rise of nationalism, liberalism, and scientific racism all contribute to growing interest in empire. Colonial subjugation of other peoples justified in terms of static racial or “biological” hierarchies, while at the same time the pursuit of empire was justified in terms of moral and material “improvement”

II. Cultures of empire

Ideological foundations

Nationalism

Scientific racism

Civilizing mission

Displaying empire at home

Replica of Angkor Wat, Paris 1931

Advertising empire

“Commodity” racism

II. Technology and empire: Steamboats and “hydro” imperialism

• Technologies of free trade: China

• Technologies of territorial expansion: Africa

Grand Canal, China

Steamships in First Opium War (1839–1842)

Niger River

Igbo war canoe, Niger Delta, early 19th century

Niger Expedition, 1841

Omadurman, 1898