Industrialization, Imperialism, and Global Economic Systems Terms

industrialization

the development of machine-powered factories and large-scale manufacturing, which increased production and changed how people worked and lived.

communism

an economic and political system in which property and production are collectively owned, with the goal of creating a classless society.

socialism

an economic system in which the community or government owns or controls major industries and resources to reduce inequality.

4 Cs

needs class notes to define accurately because the term can refer to different concepts.

arbitrary borders

boundaries drawn without considering existing ethnic, cultural, or political groups, often creating tensions between communities.

resource curse

when countries rich in natural resources experience corruption, inequality, conflict, or economic instability instead of widespread prosperity.

apartheid

a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by South Africa's government from 1948 to the early 1990s that privileged white people.

canton system

a Chinese trade system that restricted most foreign trade to Canton (Guangzhou) and tightly controlled foreign merchants.

treaty of nanjing

the 1842 treaty that ended the First Opium War, opened five Chinese ports to British trade, required China to pay Britain, and gave Britain Hong Kong.

unequal treaties

agreements imposed on China and other Asian countries that gave foreign powers special privileges and weakened local governments' control.

treaty port

a port opened to foreign trade under a treaty, often giving foreign countries special trading privileges.

extraterritoriality

the right of foreign citizens to be tried under their own country's laws rather than the laws of the country where they live.

boxer rebellion

an uprising in China from 1899 to 1901 against foreign influence and Christian missionary activity that was defeated by an international military force.

british east india company

a British trading company that expanded its power in India through trade and military conquest, eventually controlling large parts of the country.