The Age of Imperialism lasted from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. This time changed how countries traded and handled money. The main reason for this change was that European countries began to expand into Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. During this time, strong nations took control of large areas, which led to taking resources and opening new markets.
Colonization: Big European countries like Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium created colonies all over the world. By 1914, about 85% of Africa and many parts of Asia were controlled by Europe.
Economic Reasons: Making money was a key reason for imperialism. European countries looked for raw materials like rubber, oil, cotton, and minerals to support their industries. For example, at its peak, British India produced half of the world’s cotton.
Trade Routes: Setting up colonies helped create and manage trade routes. The Suez Canal, which opened in 1869, made it quicker to travel by sea between Europe and Asia. It cut travel time to India by about 30%.
Export of Goods: Colonies became important suppliers of raw materials. In 1900, Africa sent goods worth £200 million to Europe. At the same time, Europe sent nearly £300 million worth of manufactured goods back to the colonies, showing a big difference in trade.
Market Changes: Imperialism mixed up markets, allowing European goods to take over local ones. In India, British textiles flooded the market, hurting traditional local weaving jobs.
Resource Extraction: European countries took advantage of the natural resources in their colonies. For example, the Belgian Congo became well-known for rubber production. The "Congo Free State" made a lot of money for Belgium, but many Congolese people suffered from forced labor.
Investment in Infrastructure: To help with extracting and exporting resources, imperial powers built railways, ports, and telegraphs. These projects mostly served foreign interests. For instance, by 1914, British India had over 40,000 miles of railroads, mainly built to send raw materials to ports for export.
Impact on Local Industries: Local crafts and industries struggled because of competition from European goods. This led to many regions becoming reliant on European-made products.
Shifts in Agriculture: Colonizers brought in cash crops meant for export, changing farming practices. In Africa, crops like cocoa and coffee were grown more, often hurting local farming meant for feeding families.
The Age of Imperialism changed how countries traded and managed their economies. It marked a time when European countries gained a lot of power, often at the expense of local economies and cultures. This period not only transformed economies but also helped shape today’s global economic interactions. The problems that started during this time can still be seen in today’s trade relationships and international policies.
The Age of Imperialism lasted from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. This time changed how countries traded and handled money. The main reason for this change was that European countries began to expand into Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. During this time, strong nations took control of large areas, which led to taking resources and opening new markets.
Colonization: Big European countries like Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium created colonies all over the world. By 1914, about 85% of Africa and many parts of Asia were controlled by Europe.
Economic Reasons: Making money was a key reason for imperialism. European countries looked for raw materials like rubber, oil, cotton, and minerals to support their industries. For example, at its peak, British India produced half of the world’s cotton.
Trade Routes: Setting up colonies helped create and manage trade routes. The Suez Canal, which opened in 1869, made it quicker to travel by sea between Europe and Asia. It cut travel time to India by about 30%.
Export of Goods: Colonies became important suppliers of raw materials. In 1900, Africa sent goods worth £200 million to Europe. At the same time, Europe sent nearly £300 million worth of manufactured goods back to the colonies, showing a big difference in trade.
Market Changes: Imperialism mixed up markets, allowing European goods to take over local ones. In India, British textiles flooded the market, hurting traditional local weaving jobs.
Resource Extraction: European countries took advantage of the natural resources in their colonies. For example, the Belgian Congo became well-known for rubber production. The "Congo Free State" made a lot of money for Belgium, but many Congolese people suffered from forced labor.
Investment in Infrastructure: To help with extracting and exporting resources, imperial powers built railways, ports, and telegraphs. These projects mostly served foreign interests. For instance, by 1914, British India had over 40,000 miles of railroads, mainly built to send raw materials to ports for export.
Impact on Local Industries: Local crafts and industries struggled because of competition from European goods. This led to many regions becoming reliant on European-made products.
Shifts in Agriculture: Colonizers brought in cash crops meant for export, changing farming practices. In Africa, crops like cocoa and coffee were grown more, often hurting local farming meant for feeding families.
The Age of Imperialism changed how countries traded and managed their economies. It marked a time when European countries gained a lot of power, often at the expense of local economies and cultures. This period not only transformed economies but also helped shape today’s global economic interactions. The problems that started during this time can still be seen in today’s trade relationships and international policies.