The Building of Global Empires

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms relevant to imperialism and colonialism, their ideologies, movements, and significant historical aspects.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applied the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to human societies, used to justify imperialist expansion.

Mission civilisatrice

The French term for the 'civilizing mission,' the idea that colonial powers had a duty to bring civilization to indigenous populations.

Anticolonial movement

A political movement aimed at resisting colonial rule and achieving independence from colonial powers.

Economic imperialism

The control of a country’s economy by foreign businesses, rather than direct political or military control.

Settler colonies

Colonies where the colonizers settle in large numbers, often displacing indigenous populations.

Direct imperialism

A form of imperialism where the imperialist power takes direct control of the government of a colony.

Indirect imperialism

A form of imperialism where the imperialist power maintains control through local rulers or leaders.

Cultural syncretism

The blending of two or more cultural traditions, often seen in colonial settings between colonizers and indigenous populations.

Mughal Empire

A historically significant empire in India, weakened in the 19th century which facilitated British colonial expansion.

Sepoy Rebellion

A major, but ultimately unsuccessful, uprising against the British East India Company's rule in India in 1857.

Berlin Conference

An 1884-85 meeting where European powers convened to establish rules for the colonization of Africa, often disregarding indigenous cultures.