Hoorcollege 4 (11-4) Empires and Colonies
Key Questions
- Which types of empires and colonies existed in which parts of the world?
- What motivated Europeans to found and defend colonies, and how did they justify this?
- At which points did justifications and realities clash, and which consequences arose from such
clashes?
Colonies within Europe
- Great-Britain has Ireland.
- Russia has Siberia.
- Habsburgs have Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Latin America in the 19th century
- Early 19th century these colonies got rid of their rulers.
- Americans 1823 -> Monroe doctrine; Any attempt at imperialism in Latin-America will be treated as
an attack.
Colonies in Asia before 1914
- Some colonies of older possession. These were reinforced by European powers.
- New colonies; Burma, Ceylon, New-Zealand, Philippines (US as an anti-colonial power).
- China: Mix, had to accept colonies on the coast (Hong Kong, Shanghai), but at the same time it was
a colonial power to Tibet.
Colonies in Africa before 1914
- Massive expansion since 1860’s.
- Ottoman Empire loses possessions in the north of Africa.
- Nearly the whole of Africa was divided out by the powers.
Driving forces behind colonialism (Why were Europeans looking for colonies?)
- Superiority needed to be converted into colonial action.
- Prestige.
- Economic arrangement -> market that is protected. Britain destroyed Indian textile market to create
place for the British textile.
- Natural resources.
- Cheap workforces -> could be controlled.
- White man’s burden.
- Race against other European powers. Prestige rivalry.
- Strategy.
- Colonialism often turns into direct rule. When this happens some groups have a stake in it:
- Soldiers: Gain prestige, more salaries, more opportunities and better living standards in the
colonies.
- Business people and investors: Possibility to make more profit in the colonies than in
Europe.
- Merchants and shipbuilders: Profited from colonialism, empire depended on shipyard and
shipbuilders.
- Missionaries: Key group that was invested in imperialism, even if they didn’t go to the
colonies, they lobbied for it at home.
- Consumers: What people could consume, was depended on colonialism, colonial goods
(preferably from own colonies) became more affordable for Europeans. Exhibitions about the
Key Questions
- Which types of empires and colonies existed in which parts of the world?
- What motivated Europeans to found and defend colonies, and how did they justify this?
- At which points did justifications and realities clash, and which consequences arose from such
clashes?
Colonies within Europe
- Great-Britain has Ireland.
- Russia has Siberia.
- Habsburgs have Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Latin America in the 19th century
- Early 19th century these colonies got rid of their rulers.
- Americans 1823 -> Monroe doctrine; Any attempt at imperialism in Latin-America will be treated as
an attack.
Colonies in Asia before 1914
- Some colonies of older possession. These were reinforced by European powers.
- New colonies; Burma, Ceylon, New-Zealand, Philippines (US as an anti-colonial power).
- China: Mix, had to accept colonies on the coast (Hong Kong, Shanghai), but at the same time it was
a colonial power to Tibet.
Colonies in Africa before 1914
- Massive expansion since 1860’s.
- Ottoman Empire loses possessions in the north of Africa.
- Nearly the whole of Africa was divided out by the powers.
Driving forces behind colonialism (Why were Europeans looking for colonies?)
- Superiority needed to be converted into colonial action.
- Prestige.
- Economic arrangement -> market that is protected. Britain destroyed Indian textile market to create
place for the British textile.
- Natural resources.
- Cheap workforces -> could be controlled.
- White man’s burden.
- Race against other European powers. Prestige rivalry.
- Strategy.
- Colonialism often turns into direct rule. When this happens some groups have a stake in it:
- Soldiers: Gain prestige, more salaries, more opportunities and better living standards in the
colonies.
- Business people and investors: Possibility to make more profit in the colonies than in
Europe.
- Merchants and shipbuilders: Profited from colonialism, empire depended on shipyard and
shipbuilders.
- Missionaries: Key group that was invested in imperialism, even if they didn’t go to the
colonies, they lobbied for it at home.
- Consumers: What people could consume, was depended on colonialism, colonial goods
(preferably from own colonies) became more affordable for Europeans. Exhibitions about the
