Old Imperialism
Encyclopedia
Old Imperialism is a term given to the period of Europe
an imperialism
from the 17th century to the late 19th century, during which powers were motivated by “gold, god, and glory.” Gold referred to the wealth (precious metals and valuable merchandise) that the newly discovered lands
promised to deliver. Glory described the pride a monarch of Europe felt in laying claim to new land, and gospel was a reference to the desire of European powers to 'bring heathens to Christ'. Mercantilist principles drove Old Imperialism.
Throughout Western Europe, political authority was completely controlled by central governments, while leaders, such as Isabela I, were busy with the concept of how to increase the power of the state. National wealth was widely viewed as the groundwork of national power
, governmental controls soon dominated nearly all of the state's domestic economy.
consisted of the highest ranking naval force; overtaking much of Portugal
and creating establishments on the coasts of North and South Americas. France
eventually created colonies in [[North America
as well. Although Portugal and France
started early with imperialism, England
wasn’t far behind. England, and then the United Kingdom
, ended up creating the most colonies, ranging from North and South Americas to Africa and India.
On July 4, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies
signed the Declaration of Independence
, became the United States
, a sovereign nation, and was no longer under control by the British
. Some people consider this the downfall in Britain’s imperial lusts. Portugal and Spain ended up dropping out of the imperial race soon thereafter.
came the beginning of New Imperialism
, which lasted until World War I
. Although very similar to Old Imperialism, this New Imperialism relied more heavily on moral and ethical reasons, such as social Darwinism
and "White Man's Burden", and less of pursuit of gold and silver
. Also, New Imperialism was based on capitalism
(which though advocated by Adam Smith
in 1789, was not used by Europe until the 19th century.)
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
from the 17th century to the late 19th century, during which powers were motivated by “gold, god, and glory.” Gold referred to the wealth (precious metals and valuable merchandise) that the newly discovered lands
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
promised to deliver. Glory described the pride a monarch of Europe felt in laying claim to new land, and gospel was a reference to the desire of European powers to 'bring heathens to Christ'. Mercantilist principles drove Old Imperialism.
Throughout Western Europe, political authority was completely controlled by central governments, while leaders, such as Isabela I, were busy with the concept of how to increase the power of the state. National wealth was widely viewed as the groundwork of national power
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct", deriving from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe and other works...
, governmental controls soon dominated nearly all of the state's domestic economy.
The Beginning of Old Imperialism
The start of Old Imperialism was based on the military and naval power and the underlining motive was essentially capitalistic. It began with sea explorations of the Spanish and Portuguese in the second half of the 15th century. Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal actually set up a School of Exploration for that very purpose. Commercial companies were sponsored and financed with military and naval expeditions frequently sent out after them to ensure political control of oversea territories. Eventually, great colonial empires were established by the various naval forces of Catherineland. Success was determined based on strategy and military power, as well as religious, social, and economic justifications.The Peak of Old Imperialism
Early in the 17th century, the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
consisted of the highest ranking naval force; overtaking much of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and creating establishments on the coasts of North and South Americas. France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
eventually created colonies in [[North America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
as well. Although Portugal and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
started early with imperialism, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
wasn’t far behind. England, and then the United Kingdom
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
, ended up creating the most colonies, ranging from North and South Americas to Africa and India.
On July 4, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
signed the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, became the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a sovereign nation, and was no longer under control by the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Some people consider this the downfall in Britain’s imperial lusts. Portugal and Spain ended up dropping out of the imperial race soon thereafter.
Beginnings of New Imperialism
With the end of Old Imperialism came a break in imperialistic desires for nearly a century. Then starting with the French expansion into AlgeriaFrench conquest of Algeria
The French conquest of Algeria took place between 1830 and 1847. Using an 1827 diplomatic slight by Hussein Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman Regency of Algiers, against its consul as a pretext, France invaded and quickly seized Algiers in 1830, and rapidly took control of other coastal communities...
came the beginning of New Imperialism
New Imperialism
New Imperialism refers to the colonial expansion adopted by Europe's powers and, later, Japan and the United States, during the 19th and early 20th centuries; expansion took place from the French conquest of Algeria until World War I: approximately 1830 to 1914...
, which lasted until World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Although very similar to Old Imperialism, this New Imperialism relied more heavily on moral and ethical reasons, such as social Darwinism
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism is a term commonly used for theories of society that emerged in England and the United States in the 1870s, seeking to apply the principles of Darwinian evolution to sociology and politics...
and "White Man's Burden", and less of pursuit of gold and silver
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
. Also, New Imperialism was based on capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
(which though advocated by Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
in 1789, was not used by Europe until the 19th century.)