European colonialism refers to the worldwide colonial expansion of European countries, which began in the early modern period , c. 1500. Following up on the various medieval European colonizing crusades in the Levant and in the Baltic region , states such as Russia , Portugal , Spain , the Netherlands , France and Britainestablished colonial spheres of influence, most notably in Africa , India and southeast Asia , and the Americas .
Periodization
Some commentators identify three waves of European colonialism. [1]
The three main countries in the first wave of European colonialism were the early Ottoman Empire , Spain and Portugal . [ citation needed ] The Ottomans conquered South Eastern Europe , the Middle East and Much of Northern and Eastern Africa between 1359 and 1653. The Spanish and Portuguese launched the colonization of the Americas , basing their territorial claims on the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494. This treaty demarcated the respective spheres of influence of Spain and Portugal. [2] The expansion achieved by Spain and Portugal caught the attention of Britain, France and the Netherlands. [3] [ need quotation to verify ] The entrance of These three powers into the Caribbean and North America [4] perpetuated European colonialism in contention regions. [3] [ need quotation to verify ]
The second wave of European colonialism started with Britain’s involvement in Asia in support of the British East India Company ; oher countries such as France, Portugal and the Netherlands, also in the European expansion in Asia. [5]
The third wave of the Scramble for Africa , [6] regulated by the terms of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. The conference is divided between Africa and the European powers. Vast regions of Africa came under the sway of Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Italy and Spain [7] – which gives insight to Africa’s post-colonial diversity. [3] [ need quotation to verify ]
Gilmartin explains these three waves of colonialism have been linked [ by whom? ] to capitalism . [8] The first wave of the European expansion is exploring the world to find new revenue and perpetuating European feudalism . [9] The second wave focused on developing the mercantile capitalism system and the manufacturing industry in Europe. [10] The last wave of European colonialism solidified all the capitalistic endeavors by providing new markets and raw materials. [11]
Settler colonialism
Outside Europe, European settler colonialism (as Opposed to exploitation colonialism ) HAS HAD PARTICULARLY major lasting effects on the demographics and cultures of the Americas , North Asia ( Siberia and the Russian Far East ) and Australasia .
Further reading
- Panikkar, KM (1953). Asia and Western Dominance, 1498-1945, by KM Panikkar. London: G. Allen and Unwin.
References
- Jump up^ Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. In Gallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
Commentators have identified three broad waves of European colonial and imperial expansion, connected with specific territories. The first targeted the Americas, North and South, and the Caribbean. The second focused on Asia, while the third wave extended European control into Africa.
- Jump up^ Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. In Gallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
Spain and Portugal were chiefly responsible for colonizing South America from the fifteenth century onwards, with the territory divided between the two countries by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Gilmartin, M. (2009). Colonialism / Imperialism. In Key Concepts in Political Geography (pp. 115-123). London: SAGE.
- Jump up^ Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. In Gallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
[Spain and Portugal] were followed by the British, French and Dutch, who made territorial gains particularly in North America and the Caribbean.
- Jump up^ Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. In Gallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
Britain – under the auspices of the East India Company – was in the forefront of colonizing Asia, particularly India, from the seventeenth century onwards, though other European countries, such as Portugal, the Netherlands and France, also had Asian colonial possessions.
- Jump up^ Compare: Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. InGallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
The third wave, from the 1880s onwards, is often described as ‚New Imperialism‘ and was focused on Africa.
- Jump up^ Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. In Gallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
[The third wave] was structured by the Berlin Conference (1884-85), which involved the European powers and served to divide Africa between them. Following the Conference, a number of European Powers became involved in the so-called Scramble for Africa. Within twenty years, the vast majority of the territory of Africa had been carved up between Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Italy and Spain […].
- Jump up^ Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. In Gallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 115-116. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
These three broad waves of colonial expansion have often been linked to the development of capitalism.
- Jump up^ Compare: Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. InGallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 116. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
The first wave has been explained in terms of a crisis of European feudalism, with European powers in search of new sources of revenue.
- Jump up^ Compare: Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. InGallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 116. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
The second wave has been associated with the development of mercantile capitalism and the development of manufacturing in Europe.
- Jump up^ Compare: Gilmartin, Mary (2009). „9: Colonialism / imperialism“. InGallaher, Carolyn ; Dahlman, Carl T .; Gilmartin, Mary; Mountz, Alison; Shirlow, Peter. Key Concepts in Political Geography . Key Concepts in Human Geography. London: SAGE. p. 116. ISBN 9781446243541 . Retrieved 2017-08-09 .
The third wave facilitated the consolidation of European capitalism, particularly through the supply of raw materials and new markets […].