European Colonial Empires
Definition
These were territories established and ruled by European powers across the world from the 15th to the 20th century. They played a significant role in global trade, politics, and cultural exchange.
Analogy
Think of these empires as giant multinational corporations with branches all over the world. Just like how a corporation's headquarters controls its branches, European countries controlled their colonies.
Related terms
Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Imperialism: A policy or ideology by a nation to maintain control over distant lands or people, often by establishing settlements and enforcing economic dominance.
Decolonization: The process by which colonies become independent of colonial rule. This usually involves a transfer of power from the colonial ruler to an indigenous government.
"European Colonial Empires" appears in:
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Practice Questions (1)
- What was a common factor that facilitated European colonial empires in their expansion during the early modern period?
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