History

• Jewel of the Crown

  A phrase that means something has great value. The word originated from the British Empire titling India as the "Jewel of the Crown" because of their great status, and were the British's most valued and prized possession.
• Suez Canal


  A waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red sea. It allowed ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around the southern tip of Africa, significantly reducing travel time and distance. The canal was completed in 1869 and it played a pivotal role in global trade and overseas transportation.
• Social Darwinism


  An idea originating from Charles Darwin that says a stronger force will overpower a weaker force. Social Darwinism was shown by the Europeans during Imperialism because the Europeans were seen as the stronger force because of their industrialization and advantage in technology. The weaker forces in this case was the native surrounding countries that contained valuable products that would make profit trading.
• Protectorate


  A country that is controlled and protected by a more powerful country. Local rulers were left in place but were expected to follow the advice of European advisors on issues such as trade or missionary activities.
• Definitions of racism


  • Discrimination against another person based on their race
  • The belief that different races possess distinct characteristics that make them inferior or superior to one
• Imperialism


  The seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country
• Context of European imperialism in Africa


  • First exploring and finding exclusive resources in Africa
  • Sending missionaries out to try to convert the natives to Christianity
  • Feeling the need to "help" the native people by controlling the territory they were in
  • After the Berlin Conference, Africa really didn't have any control over their own country
  • The need to fuel industrial production in the 19th & 20th centuries caused nations to seize areas in Africa for raw materials
• Driving forces of imperialism

  • Economic: the desire to make money, to expand and control foreign trade, to create new markets for products, to acquire raw materials and cheap labor, to compete for investments and resources, and to export industrial technology and transportation methods
  • Political: a nation's desire to gain power, to compete with other European countries, to expand territory, to exercise military force, to gain prestige by winning colonies, and to boost national pride and security
  • Religious: desire to spread Christianity, to protect European missionaries in other lands, to spread European values ad moral beliefs, to educate peoples of other cultures, and to end slave trade in Africa
  • Exploratory: desire to explore "unknown" or uncharted territory, to conduct scientific research, to conduct medical searches for the causes and treatment of diseases, to go on an adventure, and to investigate "unknown" lands and cultures
  • Ideological: based on cultural values such as the belief that Europeans should "civilize" peoples in other parts of the world, great nations should have empires, and only the strongest nations will survive
• Sphere of Influence


  An area in which an outside power claimed exclusive investment or trading privileges. Europeans created spheres of influence in China and elsewhere to prevent conflicts among themselves.
• Colony


  A country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country.
• Boer


  A member of the Dutch and Huguenot population that settled in southern Africa in the late 17th century.
• Paternalism


  Making all the decisions for the people you govern, employ, or are responsible for, so that they cannot or do not have to make their own decisions. This idea was present from the Europeans who took over native countries because they felt that the countries needed their support.
• Assimilation


  Refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms, values, customs, and behaviors of a dominant or host society, often resulting in a blending or integration of different cultural identities. This process can occur voluntarily or as a result of social, economic, or political pressures. This was present in Imperialism when native people would be forced to adapt to the culture of the dominant rule.
• Benefits of the Railroad


  • More efficient way of transportation and trade routes
  • Presented economic developments and opportunities such as enabling the expansion of industries
  • Contributed to urbanization by facilitating the movement of people from rural cities to towns
• Berlin Conference


  1884-1885: 14 European nations met to lay down rules for division of Africa. They divided the continent with little thought about ethnic group distribution. No African ruler was invited to attend the meeting. By 1914, only Liberia & Ethiopia were free of European control.
• Boer War


  Fought from October 11, 1899, to May 31, 1902, between Great Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaner) republics—the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State—resulting in British victory. One cause is the British Empire sought to expand its control over territories rich in resources, including gold and diamonds, which were discovered in the Boer territories of Transvaal and Orange Free State.
• Opium War


  A battle between the British and China caused by the Chinese government outlawing opium and ending trade with the British, which the British refused because they insisted on the right of free trade. First war: 1839-1842. Second war: 1856 to 1860, a weakened China fought both Great Britain and France. China lost both wars.
• Boxer Rebellion


  1899-1900 A group called the Boxers who suffered from the effects of floods and famine, poverty, and foreign aggression participated in an anti-foreign movement. The Western powers conjoined with Japan to create a multinational force which crushed the Boxers and rescued the foreigners in Beijing.
• Sepoy Mutiny


  Also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the First War of Indian Independence, was a significant uprising against British rule in India. It began in May 1857 and lasted for about a year, with widespread unrest and violence across various parts of India. Some causes included discontent among Indian soldiers (sepoys) in the British East India Company's army over issues such as low pay, racial discrimination, and the use of new Enfield rifles with cartridges rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, which offended the religious beliefs of Hindu and Muslim sepoys. Additionally, there was widespread resentment among the Indian populace towards British rule, land annexations, and the imposition of Western culture and values. The result was that the rebellion was eventually quelled by the British by mid-1858, but it had far-reaching consequences, including the British government dissolving the East India Company and transferring control of India to the British Crown, marking the beginning of direct British rule in India under the British Raj.
• Shaka


  A Zulu warrior and military leader who rose to power in the early 19th century in Southern Africa. He transformed the Zulu tribe into a formidable military force through innovative military tactics and organizational reforms. His conquests and expansion of the Zulu kingdom significantly reshaped the political landscape of the region, leaving a lasting impact on South African history.
• Menelik II


  The Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 until his death in 1913. He is best known for his successful efforts to modernize Ethiopia and resist European colonization. Menelik's most significant achievement was his leadership in defeating the Italian army at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, ensuring Ethiopia's independence and becoming a symbol of African resistance against imperialism.
• Muhammad Ali


  also known as Muhammad Ali of Egypt, was an Ottoman Albanian commander who became the ruler of Egypt and Sudan in the early 19th century. He is renowned for modernizing Egypt through various reforms, including economic, military, and administrative changes, aiming to reduce foreign influence and assert Egyptian independence from Ottoman control.
• Sepoy


  Indian soldiers serving in the British East India Company's army during the colonial period. They played a crucial role in maintaining British control over India by participating in military campaigns, garrison duty, and suppressing local uprisings. However, during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, many sepoys rebelled against British rule, leading to a significant uprising against colonial authority.
• Mohandas Gandhi


  A prominent leader of the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. He advocated for nonviolent civil disobedience as a means of achieving political and social change, leading mass movements such as the Salt March and advocating for Indian self-reliance and communal harmony. His efforts ultimately led to India's independence from British rule in 1947.
• David Livingstone


  A Scottish missionary, explorer, and anti-slavery campaigner in the 19th century. He gained fame for his extensive explorations of Africa, particularly in the interior regions. Livingstone's efforts to map and Christianize Africa, along with his opposition to the African slave trade, contributed to European knowledge of the continent and influenced subsequent colonial endeavors. His famous encounter with Henry Morton Stanley in 1871, during which Stanley uttered the now-famous phrase "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?", epitomized his status as a legendary explorer.
• What allowed Europeans to take control of the people they overtook? The Europeans had an advantage with their improvements in weapons.
• Why did Imperialism begin? Imperialism began primarily due to economic motives such as the desire for new markets, raw materials, and cheap labor. European nations sought to expand their influence and territories to fuel industrialization and secure resources, leading to competition for colonies and spheres of influence in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Additionally, factors such as nationalism, technological advancements, and the belief in cultural superiority also played significant roles in driving imperialism.
• What did industrialized countries need more of and they started looking outside their borders for this? Industrialized countries sought raw materials and new markets to sustain their growing economies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As domestic resources became insufficient, they looked outside their borders for sources of raw materials such as minerals, timber, and agricultural products, as well as for markets to sell their manufactured goods. This drive for resources and markets fueled imperialistic expansion into Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world.
• What country had the biggest colonial empire? British
• Why did the Indians resent British rule? Indians resented British rule for various reasons, including economic exploitation through land taxation and unequal trade policies, cultural and religious suppression, racial discrimination, lack of political representation, and the imposition of British social and educational systems that undermined traditional Indian practices. Additionally, the British insensitivity to Indian customs and traditions, along with incidents of exploitation and abuse by British officials, further fueled resentment among the Indian populace.
• What was the outcome of the Opium War? The outcome of the Opium War, which took place between China and Britain from 1839 to 1842, was a decisive victory for Britain. The Treaty of Nanking, signed in 1842, forced China to cede Hong Kong to Britain, open up several ports for British trade, grant extraterritorial rights to British citizens, and pay a large indemnity. Additionally, it marked the beginning of unequal treaties between China and Western powers, leading to further encroachments on Chinese sovereignty and the eventual decline of the Qing Dynasty.
• What improvements did the British do in India? Improvements in construction, education, and legal reforms.
• What countries are successful in Africa in remaining independent? Liberia and Ethiopia.
• What two religious groups in India had repeated conflicts? Hindus and Muslims
• Unrestricted Submarine Warfare


  A military strategy where submarines attack merchant ships and other vessels without warning, regardless of their nationality, location, or cargo
• Triple Alliance


  An alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
• Triple Entente


  An alliance between Russia, Great Britain, France
• Trench Warfare


  1. Opposing armies digging intricate systems of trenches facing each other across a battlefront

  2. Soldiers living, fighting, and enduring harsh conditions within these trenches

  3. Stalemates common, with each side launching periodic offensives to try to break through enemy lines, resulting in immense casualties

  4. First used in the Battle of the Marne
• Powder Keg


  The Balkans were known as the "powder keg of europe" because of a complex mix of ethnicities, nationalisms, and historical tensions among the various peoples in the region
• Schlieffen Plan


  Created by the Germans, the plan was to easily destroy France by invading Belgium, then go on to take over Russia