The Silk Road: A network of ancient trade routes connecting Europe, China and the Mediterranean Sea, facilitating cultural and economic exchange. Mercantilism: An economic system where the government controls trade and accumulates wealth through a favorable balance of trade, often through colonies. Capitalism: An economic system where private individuals or corporations own the means of production and operate for profit in competitive markets. Columbian Exchange (Grand Exchange): The widespread exchange of plants, animals, goods, diseases, and ideas between the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and the New World (Americas) after Christopher Columbus's voyages. European motivations for imperialism & neo-imperialism: Desire for resources, new markets, political power, cultural superiority, and strategic dominance. European motivations for exploration: Seeking new trade routes to Asia, spreading Christianity, gaining glory, and acquiring wealth through discovery. European motivations for colonialism: Establishing settlements abroad to exploit resources, assert dominance, and spread European culture and governance. Eurocentrism: Viewing the world from a European or Western perspective, often interpreting other cultures and histories in relation to Europe. Ethnocentrism: Evaluating other cultures according to the standards and values of one's own culture, often leading to a biased perspective. Economic imperialism: Economic dominance and control over regions or countries by powerful nations or corporations, often through indirect means like trade agreements or debt. Slave trade: The buying, selling, and transporting of human beings, especially Africans, as forced laborers to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries. Indentured labor: Contractual labor where a person agrees to work for a specified period (often several years) in exchange for transportation, food, housing, and other benefits. Child labor: The employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, potential, dignity, and is harmful to physical and mental development. Depopulation: Significant reduction in the population of a region or country, often due to disease, war, or forced migration. Colonization of India: British control and exploitation of India from the 18th to 20th centuries, resulting in political, economic, and cultural dominance. Mahatma Gandhi: Leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance (Satyagraha). Apartheid: System of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa enforced by the government from 1948 to 1994. Rwanda: A country in East Africa known for the 1994 genocide where Hutu extremists killed an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Colonization in Canada: European settlement and control over indigenous lands in what is now Canada, leading to displacement, cultural suppression, and conflict. Treatment of indigenous peoples in Canada: Historic and ongoing issues including land dispossession, forced assimilation, and social marginalization of indigenous populations. African Scramble: The rapid colonization and division of Africa by European powers during the late 19th century, motivated by resource extraction and strategic control. Forces Driving Colonization: Economic motives (resources, trade), political competition (power and influence), religious zeal (spreading Christianity), and cultural superiority (ethnocentrism).

The Silk Road:

A network of ancient trade routes connecting Europe, China and the Mediterranean Sea, facilitating cultural and economic exchange.

Mercantilism:

An economic system where the government controls trade and accumulates wealth through a favorable balance of trade, often through colonies.

Capitalism:

An economic system where private individuals or corporations own the means of production and operate for profit in competitive markets.

Columbian Exchange (Grand Exchange):

The widespread exchange of plants, animals, goods, diseases, and ideas between the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and the New World (Americas) after Christopher Columbus's voyages.

European motivations for imperialism & neo-imperialism:

Desire for resources, new markets, political power, cultural superiority, and strategic dominance.

European motivations for exploration:

Seeking new trade routes to Asia, spreading Christianity, gaining glory, and acquiring wealth through discovery.

European motivations for colonialism:

Establishing settlements abroad to exploit resources, assert dominance, and spread European culture and governance.

Eurocentrism:

Viewing the world from a European or Western perspective, often interpreting other cultures and histories in relation to Europe.

Ethnocentrism:

Evaluating other cultures according to the standards and values of one's own culture, often leading to a biased perspective.

Economic imperialism:

Economic dominance and control over regions or countries by powerful nations or corporations, often through indirect means like trade agreements or debt.

Slave trade:

The buying, selling, and transporting of human beings, especially Africans, as forced laborers to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Indentured labor:

Contractual labor where a person agrees to work for a specified period (often several years) in exchange for transportation, food, housing, and other benefits.

Child labor:

The employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, potential, dignity, and is harmful to physical and mental development.

Depopulation:

Significant reduction in the population of a region or country, often due to disease, war, or forced migration.

Colonization of India:

British control and exploitation of India from the 18th to 20th centuries, resulting in political, economic, and cultural dominance.

Mahatma Gandhi:

Leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance (Satyagraha).

Apartheid:

System of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa enforced by the government from 1948 to 1994.

Rwanda:

A country in East Africa known for the 1994 genocide where Hutu extremists killed an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Colonization in Canada:

European settlement and control over indigenous lands in what is now Canada, leading to displacement, cultural suppression, and conflict.

Treatment of indigenous peoples in Canada:

Historic and ongoing issues including land dispossession, forced assimilation, and social marginalization of indigenous populations.

African Scramble:

The rapid colonization and division of Africa by European powers during the late 19th century, motivated by resource extraction and strategic control.

Forces Driving Colonization:

Economic motives (resources, trade), political competition (power and influence), religious zeal (spreading Christianity), and cultural superiority (ethnocentrism).