Imperialism, 1870-1914

Last updated almost 6 years ago

9 questions

Do Now: Inequality in today's world.
Go to the following two websites:
NationalPrioritiesProject (also known as "CostofWar") This estimates the amount of money the US is spending on war, weapons, the treatment of wounded soldiers, and families of soldiers.
GlobalRichList - This calculates where you are in terms of global wealth. You need to enter an income. School tuition at ASP is above 30,000€. The cost of a square meter in a Paris apartment is roughly 10,000€. A safe estimate of income is €100,000. Where does a person with this income fit on the Global Rich List?

Do the statistics on these pages represent a problem? Why or why not?

Source A: Motives for Imperialism
What made imperialism so broadly popular in Europe, especially in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, was the growth of mass nationalism. By 1871, the unification of Italy and Germany intensified Europe's already competitive international relations, and much of this rivalry spilled over into the struggle for colonies or economic concessions in Asia, Africa, and Pacific Oceania. Colonies and spheres of influence abroad became symbols of "Great Power" status for a nation, and their acquisition was a matter of urgency, even if they possessed little immediate economic value. After 1875, it seemed to matter, even to ordinary people, whether some remote corner of Africa or some obscure Pacific island was in British, French, or German hands. Imperialism, in short, appealed on economic and social grounds to the wealthy or ambitious, seemed politically and strategically necessary in the game of international power politics, and was emotionally satisfying to almost everyone. It was a potent mix!
If the industrial era made overseas expansion more desirable or even urgent, it also provided new
means for achieving those goals. Steam-driven ships moving through the new Suez Canal, completed in 1869, allowed Europeans to reach distant Asian, African, and Pacific ports more quickly and predictably and to penetrate interior rivers as well.
From Ways of the World, a World History textbook, written by Robert Strayer in 2018. 

Name three places from Source A that were not covered in Units 1 to 4. 3-6 words.

Based on the Source A, did European nations need to build empires in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific? Why or why not? Write 2-5 sentences.

Source B: Colonial Africa
The map below shows conquest and resistance in colonial Africa. By the end of the 19th century, the map of Africa reflected the European "scramble for Africa," a conquest that was heavily resisted in many places. 

According to the map in Source B, which of the following countries in Africa were not ruled by Europeans in the period 1870-1914:

Source C: Map of Africa and Arabian Peninsula with dates that countries gained independence

Describe two ways that the independence map (Source C) above is similar to or different from the map of colonial Africa. 2-4 sentences.

Source D: Empires and nations of Asia, 1850-1914

"The map in Source D indicates that most people of Asia were ruled by foreign powers in the early 1900s." How far do you agree with this statement, based on the map.

Source E: Painting, "The European in India," by Charles Doyley. 1812. More on this picture here.

What do you think is the message of the work by the artist in Source E? Do you think the audience is mostly British people, mostly Indian people, or both? Explain

Source F: Imperial Durbar of 1903. To mark the coronation of British monarch Edward VII and his installation as the emperor of India, colonial authorities in India mounted an elaborate assembly, or durbar. The durbar was intended to showcase the splendor of the British Empire and its pageantry included sporting events; a state ball; a huge display of Indian arts, crafts and jewels; and an enormous parade in which a long line of British officials and Indian princes passed by on bejeweled elephants.
Picture and caption are from Ways of the World by Robert Strayer. Published in 2018.

Based on the image and the text in Source F, was the Durbar mostly based on British culture, Indian culture, or a blend of both? Refer to specific words from the text and the image in your response.

While many countries tried to achieve greatness through empire building, the British were the most successful. Based on the sources and your reading of the textbook, how far do you agree?