Glossary - Unit 1

Question 1

Define colonisation

Answer 1

Colonisation is a process where one country takes direct control of another area, often by setting its own people there, dominating its resources, and imposing its culture and governance

Question 2

Define colony

Answer 2

A colony is a territory that is controlled and governed by a foreign power

Question 3

Define imperialism

Answer 3

Imperialism is a state policy by which one country forcefully gains and keeps control of another country or territory, with the intent of dominating the economic, political and social life of the people of that territory. Most often, countries use military means to achieve this aim

Question 4

Define jingoism

Answer 4

Jingoism refers to a form of extreme patriotism, that can manifest itself through an aggressive or warlike foreign policy

Question 5

Define new imperialism

Answer 5

New imperialism was developed in the last decades of the 19th century and 20th century. European nations took part in a new scramble for colonies centred on Africa and Asia

Question 6

Define old imperialism

Answer 6

The period of imperialism from the 15th century to the 18th century. Spain and Portugal were the main imperial powers at this time and the main focus was the Americas. Usually direct control

Question 7

Define protectorate

Answer 7

Protectorate is a territory that retains authority over most of its internal affairs, while still recognising the suzerainty of a more powerful sovereign state. The protectorate usually accepts specified obligations in exchange for the sovereign state’s protection. (Ex: Egypt from 1882 until 1922)

Question 8

Define scramble for Africa

Answer 8

The scramble for Africa is a rapid imperial conquest of the huge majority of the African continent by European powers, starting in the 1880s and ending just before World War I

Question 9

Define social Darwinism

Answer 9

Social Darwinism refers to an application of Darwin’s theory of evolution applied to humanity’s social structures. It makes a parallel between the evolutionary process in natural history and social history. (Later this theory led to the rise of eugenics. Eugenics sought to control and improve the genetic makeup of the human population

Question 10

Define sphere of influence

Answer 10

The sphere of influence refers to a region when a foreign power has significant control over trade, investments, and sometimes politics, without formally annexing the territory. (Ex: China in the 19th century)

Question 11

Define “White Man’s Burden”

Answer 11

The concept of the “White Man’s Burden” is the idea that Europeans should spread the benefits of Western civilisation and “civilise” those territories that did not hold Western values