Extent of European Imperial Expansion
Instructions:
Read the following page about European imperial expansion and
highlight the key ideas.
Complete the source questions below in your exercise book:
Imperial Expansion
The Industrial Revolution found new uses for raw materials and tapped
new sources of wealth. Rubber from Africa, timber from Asia, wool from
Australia, grain from Canada, and dairy produce form New Zealand were
easily transported to and sold in Europe. By the mid nineteenth century,
small numbers of Europeans established colonies that they claimed
brought government and order to African and Asian communities.
People who believed in the great civilising influence of- colonialism were
known as imperialists.
In the nineteenth century, the British national pride lay in the
knowledge that their empire spanned the entire Earth. The British
boasted that the ‘sun never set’ on their empire. The ‘brightest jewel in
the crown’ of Britain’s empire was India.
There were many complex reasons why Europeans
]control of the non-European world:
- Economics: The Industrial Revolution created a huge demand for
new supplies and markets to sell their manufactured goods. Europe
needed to gain access to cheap supplies of raw materials like
minerals, rubber, cotton and tea.
- Nationalism: Possession of colonies began to be seen as a sign of
national strength and prestige.
- Security: Control of overseas territory provided the Europeans
with strategic advantages over their European rivals.
Impact:
- European conquest was often accompanied by warfare.
- Imperialism encouraged racial discrimination, bitterness and
resentment.
- The introduction of alcohol created issues in societies culturally
unfamiliar with its effects.
- Law and order was established in European empires to facilitate
trade and industry.
- Increased food production techniques and European medicine
increased average life expectancy.
- Industrial development of roads, railways, communications
systems, irrigation works, improved agricultural methods and
factories increased.
Instructions:
Read the following page about European imperial expansion and
highlight the key ideas.
Complete the source questions below in your exercise book:
Imperial Expansion
The Industrial Revolution found new uses for raw materials and tapped
new sources of wealth. Rubber from Africa, timber from Asia, wool from
Australia, grain from Canada, and dairy produce form New Zealand were
easily transported to and sold in Europe. By the mid nineteenth century,
small numbers of Europeans established colonies that they claimed
brought government and order to African and Asian communities.
People who believed in the great civilising influence of- colonialism were
known as imperialists.
In the nineteenth century, the British national pride lay in the
knowledge that their empire spanned the entire Earth. The British
boasted that the ‘sun never set’ on their empire. The ‘brightest jewel in
the crown’ of Britain’s empire was India.
There were many complex reasons why Europeans
]control of the non-European world:
- Economics: The Industrial Revolution created a huge demand for
new supplies and markets to sell their manufactured goods. Europe
needed to gain access to cheap supplies of raw materials like
minerals, rubber, cotton and tea.
- Nationalism: Possession of colonies began to be seen as a sign of
national strength and prestige.
- Security: Control of overseas territory provided the Europeans
with strategic advantages over their European rivals.
Impact:
- European conquest was often accompanied by warfare.
- Imperialism encouraged racial discrimination, bitterness and
resentment.
- The introduction of alcohol created issues in societies culturally
unfamiliar with its effects.
- Law and order was established in European empires to facilitate
trade and industry.
- Increased food production techniques and European medicine
increased average life expectancy.
- Industrial development of roads, railways, communications
systems, irrigation works, improved agricultural methods and
factories increased.
