Introduction to Imperialism

As defined by Merriam Webster, imperialism is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies. This was a great way for European powers to expand their empires, and to become more of a world power. While this practice has been seen all throughout history, it became prevalent in the 1800's, especially in European countries.

 

The practice of imperialism lead to phrases such as "the sun never sets on the British empire." This was not an entirely new concept, as the same phrase had been applied to the Hapsburg Dynasty a few centuries earlier, but the rate at which the practice spread was much swifter than in prior times. The effects of imperialism were seen in Africa, Asia, and India, as well as other areas.