Imperialism and India

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Recommended: European imperialism during the 16th century

The domination of a country’s or region’s political, cultural, or economic life by one country is called imperialism. (Esler, page. 632) European imperialism began in the 1800s. “European nations won empires in the Americas after1492, established colonies in India and Southeast Asia, and gained toeholds on the coast of Africa and China. Despite these gains, between 1500 and 1800, Europe had little influence on the lives of the peoples of China, India or Africa.” (Esler, page.632) Then the Europeans industrialized and believe western cultures were superior to all other. They felt the other countries were inferior to them and began the spread of westernization.

There were many causes of imperialism. A major cause of imperialism was their economic interests. The Europeans had begun industrializing. They needed cheap raw goods and markets. Industrialization demanded the need for them. Europe also needed a place for their expanding population.

Another cause of imperialism is political and military interests. Europe needed to take on coal and supplies. In order to do this, you need naval vessels and steam-powered merchant ships. Nationalism played an important role in the growth of imperialism also.

Humanitarian and religious goals were a cause of imperialism. Some Europeans felt as if other countries were their “little brothers.” Europeans brought doctors, new medicine, law and Christianity to the colonies. This was one of the positive effects of imperialism. Many referred to this as the “White Man’s Burden” Missionaries wanted to spread the word of Christianity to the inferior countries. Some missionaries believed that in order to end some negative results of imperialism was to convert the people to Chr...

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...working together. “In time, however, Muslims grew to resent Hindu domination of the Congress party.” (Esler, pg.649) They felt that the Muslims would rise up against them. They created the Muslim league to pursue their own goals in 1906.

European Imperialism had both positive and negative effects on India. Some positive effects on India were: exposure to westernization, new medicines, laws and cultural diffusion. Some negative effects were they disrespected and took away India’s beliefs.

Works Cited
Ellis and Esler ©1997 Prentice Hall World History: Connections to Today Textbook, Esler Upper Sadle River, New Jersey

Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center. Feburary 28, 2010, from http://regentsprep.org/regents/global/themes/imperialism/index.cfm

Wesseling, H.L. © 2004, The European Colonial Empires (1815-1919) Pearson Education Limited 2004

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