Topic 1: Economic and Political Motives for Imperial Expansion

Vocabulary flashcards covering economic motives, political motives, and overlapping or broader concepts of imperial expansion based on the provided document.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries, creating demand for raw materials and new markets.

Raw Materials

Natural resources (like cotton, rubber, tin, oil) extracted from colonies to fuel industrial economies.

Markets

New areas for selling manufactured goods, crucial to expanding capitalist economies.

Capital Investment

Profits from industrial nations invested in colonies for infrastructure, plantations, and mines.

Strategic Resources

Resources considered essential for national power (e.g., coal for navies, later oil).

Nationalism

Pride in one's nation, driving the belief that colonies symbolized prestige and global standing.

Great Power Rivalry

Competition among European powers (e.g., Britain, France, Germany) to gain colonies to assert dominance.

Geopolitics

Control of territory for strategic reasons (ports, naval bases, trade routes like Suez Canal).

Balance of Power

The need to keep pace with rival nations to avoid falling behind in influence.

Colonial Prestige

The idea that colonies enhanced international reputation and domestic legitimacy.

Imperialism

Policy of extending a nation's power by acquiring territories or controlling other nations politically and economically.

Colonialism

Direct control and settlement of territories by a foreign power.

Sphere of Influence

A region where one nation holds exclusive trading or political rights without full formal control.

Economic Imperialism

A form of control through business interests and investments rather than direct rule.

Social Darwinism

Pseudo-scientific justification for imperialism, arguing that stronger nations had the right to dominate weaker ones.