history
Imperialism and the Civilizing Mission
Rudyard Kipling, The White Man’s Burden, 1899 (excerpts)
Take up the White Man's burden-- Send forth the best ye breed-- Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild-- Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man's burden-- In patience to abide, To veil the threat of terror And check the show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred times made plain To seek another's profit, And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden-- The savage wars of peace-- Fill full the mouth of Famine And bid the sickness cease; And when your goal is nearest The end for others sought, Watch sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hopes to naught. […]
Take up the White Man's burden-- And reap his old reward: The blame of those ye better, The hate of those ye guard-- The cry of hosts ye humor (Ah, slowly!) toward the light:-- "Why brought he us from bondage, Our loved Egyptian night?“ […]
Imperialism
Imperialism: the process whereby one state with superior military strength and more advanced technology imposes its control over the land, resources, and population of a less developed region
By the end of the 19th century, Europeans dominated African and Asian lands and populations
Imperialism
Imperialism: the process whereby one state with superior military strength and more advanced technology imposes its control over the land, resources, and population of a less developed region
By the end of the 19th century, Europeans dominated African and Asian lands and populations
Scramble for Africa: during the 1880s, the European powers divided up the African continent
German map of Africa, 1850
German map of Africa, 1900
British map of Africa, 1890
The factors facilitating Imperialism
Nationalism
The factors facilitating Imperialism
Nationalism
Show national greatness
Strategic advantage
Rivalries
The factors facilitating Imperialism
Nationalism
Show national greatness
Strategic advantage
Rivalries
Industrialization
The factors facilitating Imperialism
Nationalism
Show national greatness
Strategic advantage
Rivalries
Industrialization
Desire for raw materials and new markets
Generated enormous resources
Peace within Europe
Developments in weaponry and transportation
The factors facilitating Imperialism
Nationalism
Show national greatness
Strategic advantage
Rivalries
Industrialization
Desire for raw materials and new markets
Generated enormous resources
Peace within Europe
Developments in weaponry and transportation
Belief in European cultural superiority
Pseudo-science
Social-Darwinists
Racist stereotypes
Imperialism and European Culture
Civilizing mission
Bringing the benefits of civilization to the colonies
According to Ferry…
Why did the Europeans need colonies? What were the economic reasons? National reasons?
What was the relationship between Europeans and non-Europeans?
What justified imperialism?
Imperialism and European Culture
Civilizing mission
Bringing the benefits of civilization to the colonies
Spreading Christianity
Thomas Jones Barker, The Secret of England’s Greatness (Queen Victoria presenting a Bible), 1863
Imperialism in European culture
Civilizing mission
Bringing the benefits of civilization to the colonies
Spreading Christianity
Empire as part of national identity
Books for schoolchildren
William Strang, Rudyard Kipling, 1900
Imperialism in European culture
Civilizing mission
Bringing the benefits of civilization to the colonies
Spreading Christianity
Empire as part of national identity
Books for schoolchildren
Advertising
Adds for Banania, 1915, 1936, and today
Imperialism in European culture
Civilizing mission
Bringing the benefits of civilization to the colonies
Spreading Christianity
Empire as part of national identity
Books for schoolchildren
Advertising
Colonial Exhibitions
Advertisements for colonial exhibitions
Colonial Exhibition of Marseille, 1922: A Moroccan street
Colonial Exhibition of Paris, 1931: the Temple of Angkor
Impact of Imperialism
Direct conquest and control of territory
Impact of Imperialism
Direct conquest and control of territory
Plunder economies: exploiting the local resources and population for European benefit
The Cataracts Railway near Matadi, 1905
Impact of Imperialism
Direct conquest and control of territory
Plunder economies: exploiting the local resources and population for European benefit
Steamers and Docks at Leopoldville
Impact of Imperialism
Direct conquest and control of territory
Plunder economies: exploiting the local resources and population for European benefit
Brutality and violence: the Belgian Congo
The Force publique at Stanleyville
Impact of Imperialism
Direct conquest and control of territory
Plunder economies: exploiting the local resources and population for European benefit
Brutality and violence: the Belgian Congo
Mutilated People from the Belgian Congo, c. 1900-1905
Critiques of Imperialism
Local leaders
Missionaries
Marxists