Light

Colonial Empires

Definition

A colonial empire is a collection of territories (colonies) governed by a foreign state. In the context of European history, this often refers to the overseas territories controlled by European powers from the 15th to 20th centuries.

Analogy

Think of colonial empires like a chain of fast food franchises. The home country is like the main headquarters that controls all its branches (the colonies) in different locations. Just as each franchise contributes profits back to the main company, each colony was expected to contribute resources and wealth back to its controlling country.

Related terms

Imperialism: This is a policy or ideology where a nation extends its power by acquiring territories. It can be done through direct conquest or by establishing economic and political dominance over other countries.

Mercantilism: An economic theory popular during the colonial era that advocated for nations to increase their wealth through strict government regulation of economy, promoting commercialism and trade balance.

Decolonization: The process whereby colonies gain independence from their colonizing countries. This happened extensively after World War II when many African, Asian, and Caribbean nations gained independence from European powers.