Imperialism facts for kids

Cecil Rhodes and the Cape-Cairo railway project. Rhodes aimed to "paint the map red" (to show the British Empire).

Imperialism is a policy (way of governing) in which large or powerful countries seek to extend their authority beyond their own borders. The policy of imperialism aims at the creation of an empire.

Imperialist countries take control of other countries. They may use military force to do this. However, they may also avoid using military force. They may simply establish economic and/or political control over the other country.

Imperialist policies of countries or kingdoms have goals of taking over more land to create bigger empires.

The ruler of an empire gains natural resources such as agricultural and mining products. Human resources are also gained. Conquered peoples may be forced into slavery or into low-wage work. They may also be called into military service on behalf of the empire. Trade markets are also gained. The people under an imperial government may be forced to buy products from that government or from that government's industries.

Thus, a policy of imperialism can vastly enrich the imperialist country. This benefit can extend over a long period of time.

Imperialism has been practiced throughout recorded history. However, there is one historical period that is specifically known as the Age of Imperialism. This period extends from the early 18th century to the mid-20th century.

During the Age of Imperialism, modern and industrialised countries competed for control of pre-industrial parts of the world. In pre-industrial areas, natural and human resources were widely and cheaply available. The imperialist countries that acquired the largest empires during the Age of Imperialism are The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

Some writers use the term "imperialism" informally. They use the term to mean any type of domination of one country over another part of the world. Domination especially happened in Asia and Africa.

Images for kids

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  Imperial powers in 1800

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  Imperial powers in 1945

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  Entrance of the Russian troops in Tiflis, 26 November 1799, by Franz Roubaud, 1886

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  Ottoman wars in Europe

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  Provinces of the Roman Empire around 117 AD

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  Austria-Hungary in 1914

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  The end result of the Boer Wars was the annexation of the Boer Republics to the British Empire in 1902.

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  Smoke rises from oil tanks beside the Suez Canal hit during the initial Anglo-French assault on Egypt, 5 November 1956

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  Map of the British Empire at its territorial peak in 1921

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  Map of the Growth of China under Qin Dynasty

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  Map of the first (light blue) and second (dark blue) French colonial empires

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  French poster about the "Madagascar War"

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  German colonial empire, the third largest colonial empire during the 19th century after the British and the French ones

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  The Italian Empire in 1940

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  Japanese march into Zhengyangmen of Beijing after capturing the city in July 1937.

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  Ottoman troops marching in Aleppo

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  Areas across the world that were, at one point in their history, part of the Portuguese Empire

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  The maximum territorial extent of countries in the world under Soviet influence, after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and before the official Sino-Soviet split of 1961

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  Ceremonies during the annexation of the Republic of Hawaii, 1898

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  Cartoon of belligerent Uncle Sam placing Spain on notice, c. 1898

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  Spanish colonies and territories in the Caribbean basin (c. 1490 – c. 1660)

See also

In Spanish: Imperialismo para niños