A period of history from the 19th to the early 20th century, marked by the domination of European powers over colonies, territories, and peoples around the world.
Colonialism: Colonialism is the practice of dominating another country by taking control of its economy, government, and culture through settlement and exploitation.
Industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution was a period of major economic and social change, characterized by the widespread introduction of industrial processes into society. It occurred from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century.
Nationalism: Nationalism is a belief in the right of nations to self-determination and in the importance of national unity and identity. It played a significant role in the Age of Imperialism as European powers attempted to establish and maintain their dominance around the world.
Mercantilism: Mercantilism was an economic theory that held that a country's wealth was determined by its ability to accumulate gold and silver, and to maintain a favorable trade balance. It was an underlying motivation for many imperialist ventures during the Age of Imperialism.
Social Darwinism: Social Darwinism was a belief in the survival of the fittest, which held that certain races or nations were inherently superior to others. This belief was frequently used to justify imperialist ventures.
Scramble for Africa: The Scramble for Africa was the period of rapid colonization of Africa by European powers in the late 19th century. It had a profound impact on the continent, leading to the division of Africa into multiple nation-states that often had little regard for traditional cultural and political boundaries.
Opium Wars: The Opium Wars were two conflicts between China and Western powers in the mid-19th century, primarily over the trade of opium. They marked a turning point in China's relationship with the West, and contributed to the country's eventual decline and partitioning by foreign powers.
Boxer Rebellion: The Boxer Rebellion was a violent uprising against foreign presence in China in 1900. It was led by a popular movement of peasants and workers who opposed the foreign presence and the imposition of Western values and economic influence.
Meiji Restoration: The Meiji Restoration was a period of major social and political change in Japan in the late 19th century. It marked Japan's emergence as a major world power, and paved the way for its aggressive expansionist policies in the 20th century.
Spanish-American War: The Spanish-American War was a conflict fought in 1898 between the United States and Spain over the former's intervention in Cuba's struggle for independence. It resulted in Spain ceding control of several of its territories, including Puerto Rico, to the US.