Empire and Emergence of World Powers, 1870 - 1919

A selection of vocabulary terms relevant to the themes of imperialism and international relations in the late 19th century.

Imperialism

A significant force for expansion in late nineteenth-century Europe, motivated by economic and political interests.

Mercantilism

An economic policy aimed at maximizing exports and minimizing imports to increase national wealth.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans to the Americas, primarily driven by the demand for labor on plantations.

Nationalism

A sense of belonging to a nation, prioritizing its interests over those of other nations.

Scramble for Africa

The rapid invasion, colonization, and annexation of African territory by European powers during the late 19th century.

Berlin Conference

A meeting held in 1884-85 to regulate European imperialism and trade in Africa, aimed at preventing conflict among European nations.

Meiji Restoration

A period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan during the late 19th century, enabling Japan to become a world power.

Russo-Japanese War

A conflict (1904-1905) between Russia and Japan, where Japan emerged victorious, marking its rise as a significant world power.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of avoiding involvement in international affairs, focusing instead on domestic issues.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1823 opposing European colonialism in the Americas, asserting that any intervention would be seen as aggression.