7.2A Imperial era

• Direct colonial control:

  • It was an imperial era in which European powers dominated invading and taking power in many countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas
  • This power was the result of:
  • Large and powerful military forces including navies to transport forces overseas and protect the sea routes
  • Increasingly large businesses who could exploit resources overseas
  • The UK was a dominant force due to the size and influence of the British Empire
  • At the height of the British Empire in 1922 the UK ruled over 25% of the world's land area and 458 million people

  
• • This was an imperialist system which involved political, economic and/or cultural control
  • The UK exploited the population as a workforce and the resources of the countries
  • As other nations industrialised there were sweeping social and political changes and the influence of colonialism and imperialism decreased 
  • The costs of rebuilding after WWII also meant that European countries did not have the wealth to maintain colonial rule
• The British empire:

  • British empire ruled in the late 16th century and early 17th century
  • ruled 56 sovereign countries, influencing language and culture
  • empire was created as they wanted more land and to colonise
  • empire fell after the Second World War due to a lack of money and funding available