What Is Colonialism

What is colonialism?
Colonialism is defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or

people.” It occurs when one nation subjugates another, conquering its population
and exploiting it, often while forcing its own language and cultural values upon
its people. By 1914, a large majority of the world's nations had been colonized by
Europeans at some point.
The concept of colonialism is closely linked to that of imperialism, which is the

policy or ethos of using power and influence to control another nation or people
that underlies colonialism.
History of colonialism
In antiquity, colonialism was practiced by empires such as Ancient Greece,

Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, and Phoenicia. These civilizations all extended
their borders into surrounding and non-contiguous areas from about 1550 B.C.
onward, and established colonies that drew on the physical and population
resources of the people they conquered in order to increase their own power.
Modern colonialism began during what’s also known as the Age of Discovery.
Beginning in the 15th century, Portugal began looking for new trade routes and
searching for civilizations outside of Europe. In 1415, Portuguese explorers
conquered Ceuta, a coastal town in North Africa, kicking off an empire that
would last until 1999.
Soon the Portuguese had conquered and populated islands like Madeira and Cape
Verde, and their rival nation, Spain, decided to try exploration, too. In
1492, Christopher Columbus began looking for a western route to India and
China. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas, kicking off the Spanish Empire. Spain
and Portugal became locked in competition for new territories and took over
indigenous lands in the Americas, India, Africa, and Asia.

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England, the Netherlands, France, and Germany quickly began their own empire
building overseas, fighting Spain and Portugal for the right to lands they had
already conquered. Despite the growth of European colonies in the New World,
most countries managed to gain independence during the 18th and 19th century,
beginning with the American Revolution in 1776 and the Haitian Revolution in
1781. However, the Eastern Hemisphere continued to tempt European colonial
powers.
Starting in the 1880s, European nations focused on taking over African lands,
racing one another to coveted natural resources and establishing colonies they
would hold until an international period of decolonization began around 1914,
challenging European colonial empires up to 1975.
Colonial rationale and resistance
Colonial powers justified their conquests by asserting that they had a legal and
religious obligation to take over the land and culture of indigenous peoples.
Conquering nations cast their role as civilizing “barbaric” or “savage” nations ,
and argued that they were acting in the best interests of those whose lands and
peoples they exploited.
Despite the power of colonizers who claimed lands that were already owned and
populated by indigenous peoples, resistance is an integral part of the story of
colonialism. Even before decolonization, indigenous people on all continents
staged violent and nonviolent resistance to their conquerors.
Benefits and harm
Colonial governments invested in infrastructure and trade and disseminated

medical and technological knowledge. In some cases, they encouraged literacy,
the adoption of Western human rights standards , and sowed the seeds for
democratic institutions and systems of government. Some former colonies, like
Ghana, experienced a rise in nutrition and health with colonial rule, and colonial
European settlement has been linked to some development gains .
However, coercion and forced assimilation often accompanied those gains, and
scholars still debate colonialism’s many legacies . Colonialism’s impacts
include environmental degradation , the spread of disease , economic
instability, ethnic rivalries, and human rights violations —issues that can long
outlast one group’s colonial rule.
What is the Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism?

The main questions that we will center this article around is that of “What is the
difference between colonialism and imperialism?” Therefore, in order to compare
colonialism vs imperialism, we will define each of the terms.
What is the definition of imperialism? Imperialism is understood as a policy of a
country in which that said country influences other countries or territories through
military force, as well as other means of power (Oxford Dictionary, 2016). So, the
key point to understanding imperialism has to do with the emphasis on the idea of
overtaking others based on power. It is using their power to control others outside
of their state (New Encyclopedia of Africa, 2008, in galegroup).
What is the definition of colonialism? Colonialism is defined as a practice in
which a power sets up colonies or settlements elsewhere (in other countries or
territories) (Singh, 2001) for the political and economic benefit of the colonizing
country. So, this state will often take over other areas, setting up their own political
and economic systems, with the intent of using the colonies’ materials, land, etc…
to benefit the colonizing country. So, the establishment of administrative influence
over an area is a type of imperialism (New Encyclopedia of Africa, 2008) that has
been implemented in the history of international relations.
Thus, a core difference between colonialism and imperialism is the
idea compared to the practice or implementation of the ideas. So, imperialism
serves as the underlying ideas, whereas colonialism is an established form of
imperialism.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy differentiates colonialism vs.
imperialism by saying that “Colonialism is a practice of domination, which
involves the subjugation of one people to another. One of the difficulties in
defining colonialism is that it is hard to distinguish it from imperialism. Frequently
the two concepts are treated as synonyms. Like colonialism, imperialism also
involves political and economic control over a dependent territory. The etymology
of the two terms, however, provides some clues about how they differ. The
term colony comes from the Latin word colonus, meaning farmer. This root
reminds us that the practice of colonialism usually involved the transfer of
population to a new territory, where the arrivals lived as permanent settlers while
maintaining political allegiance to their country of origin. Imperialism, on the other
hand, comes from the Latin term imperium, meaning to command. Thus, the term
imperialism draws attention to the way that one country exercises power over
another, whether through settlement, sovereignty, or indirect mechanisms of
control.”
So, it is not only about the idea of expansion in imperialism and colonialism, but
also the way that the entity is controlling others. In the case of imperialism, the
state conquering completely takes the territory into their own territory or
empire. However, in the case of colonialism, the notion of the existing state is not
dismissed, but that colonized territory is now under the control, and the benefit of
the outside colonizing entity. In cases of colonialism, the colonizing state will send
over administrators to set up their own government and often economic structures,
as well as citizens to go live and work in the new colony (Koshal, 2015).
But even this differentiation between imperialism vs. colonialism depends on how
scholars and writers are using the terms. While we might think that there is either a
separation on idea and practice when discussing colonialism vs. imperialism, or the
exact way that a power is controlling and ruling another territory,
“The distinction between the two, however, is not entirely consistent in the
literature. Some scholars distinguish between colonies for settlement
and colonies for economic exploitation. Others use the term colonialism to
describe dependencies that are directly governed by a foreign nation and contrast
this with imperialism, which involves indirect forms of domination” (Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012).
Part of this itself has to do with the shift in the definition of imperialism. The term
“imperialism” itself was not a very common one until the 1800s. With regards to
which term was used to discuss the British Empire, “Imperialism was understood
as a system of military domination and sovereignty over territories. The day to
day work of government might be exercised indirectly through local assemblies or
indigenous rulers who paid tribute, but sovereignty rested with the British. The
shift away from this traditional understanding of empire was influenced by the
Leninist analysis of imperialism as a system oriented towards economic
exploitation. According to Lenin, imperialism was the necessary and inevitable
result of the logic of accumulation in late capitalism. Thus, for Lenin and
subsequent Marxists, imperialism described a historical stage of capitalism rather
than a trans-historical practice of political and military domination” (Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012).
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed and compared imperialism vs. colonialism. We
defined both terms, explained differences, and also addressed points which include
the fact that these two terms have often been conflated with one another. We see
that imperialism is the idea of expansion, and also the attention to political
influence, whereas in colonialism, it is a series of political and economic policies
that a colonizing country will implement on their colonial territory. As mentioned,
in colonialism, the state will bring along administrative units to govern the society
and to receive the economic benefits, sending these resources back to their home
country. Again, “Colonialism is a term used to describe the settlement of places
like India, Australia, North America, Algeria, New Zealand and Brazil, which were
all controlled by the Europeans. Imperialism, on the other hand is described where
a foreign government governs a territory without significant settlement. The
scramble for Africa in the late 19th century and the American domination of Puerto
Rico and the Philippines can be cited as examples of Imperialism.”
Given the evil history of imperialism and colonialism in international relations, it is
important to understand these terms, and also to always speak out against this
history, and any modern attempts to push these ideas. As the video above
discusses, notions of race and racism have been a part of colonial and imperialism
actions in history. Imperialists and colonialists have attempted to justify their
behavior, all the while citizens in these countries continue to fight to resist these
racist and ethnocentric ideas.
Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism
• Categorized under Ideology,Miscellaneous | Difference Between Colonialism and

Imperialism
Colonialism vs Imperialism
Colonialism and imperialism are often used interchangeably, but they are two
different words having different meaning. As both colonialism and Imperialism
means political and economic domination of the other, scholars often find it hard to
differentiate the two.
Though both the words underline suppression of the other, Colonialism is where
one nation assumes control over the other and Imperialism refers to political
or economic control, either formally or informally. In simple words,
colonialism can be thought to be a practice and imperialism as the idea
driving the practice.
Colonialism is a term where a country conquers and rules over other regions. It
means exploiting the resources of the conquered country for the benefit of the
conqueror. Imperialism means creating an empire, expanding into the neighbouring
regions and expanding its dominance far.
Colonialism is termed as building and maintaining colonies in one territory by

people from another territory. Colonialism can altogether alter the social structure,
physical structure and economics of a region. It is quite normal that in the long run,
the traits of the conqueror are inherited by the conquered.
Colonialism is a term used to describe the settlement of places like India, Australia,
North America, Algeria, New Zealand and Brazil, which were all controlled by the
Europeans. Imperialism, on the other hand is described where a foreign
government governs a territory without significant settlement. The scramble for
Africa in the late 19th century and the American domination of Puerto Rico and
the Philippines can be cited as examples of Imperialism.
In Colonialism, one can see great movement of people to the new territory and
living as permanent settlers. Though they lead the life as permanent settlers, they
still maintain allegiance to their mother country. Imperialism is just exercising
power over the conquered regions either through sovereignty or indirect
mechanisms of control.
Coming to the origin of the two, Imperialism has a longer history than
Colonialism. While the history of colonialism dates back to 15th century,
Imperialism has its origins dating back to the Romans.
Colonialism has its origins when Europeans started to look outside their country,
pursuing trade with other nations. Though colonialism can be attributed to the trade
pursuits of a country, Imperialism is just not like that and it involves individual
pursuits only.
Coming to the etymology, colony comes from the Latin word colonus, which
means farmers. Imperialism also comes from Latin word imperium, which means
to command.
Summary
1.Colonialism is a term where a country conquers and rules over other regions.
Imperialism means creating an empire, expanding into the neighbouring regions
and expanding its dominance far.
2.In Colonialism, one can see great movement of people to the new territory and
living as permanent settlers. Imperialism is just exercising power over the
conquered regions either through sovereignty or indirect mechanisms of control.
Read more: Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism | Difference

Between http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-
colonialism-and-imperialism/#ixzz6dIO0L0C2
Decolonization
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See Article History
Decolonization, process by which colonies become independent of the colonizing
country. Decolonization was gradual and peaceful for some British colonies largely
settled by expatriates but violent for others, where native rebellions were energized
by nationalism. After World War II, European countries generally lacked the
wealth and political support necessary to suppress faraway revolts; they also faced
opposition from the new superpowers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union, both of
which had taken positions against colonialism. Korea was freed in 1945 by Japan’s
defeat in the war. The U.S. relinquished the Philippines in 1946. Britain left India
in 1947, Palestine in 1948, and Egypt in 1956; it withdrew from Africa in the
1950s and ’60s, from various island protectorates in the 1970s and ’80s, and
from Hong Kong in 1997. The French left Vietnam in 1954 and gave up its North
African colonies by 1962. Portugal gave up its African colonies in the
1970s; Macau was returned to the Chinese in 1999.

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What Is Colonialism

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What is colonialism?

Colonialism is defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or

The concept of colonialism is closely linked to that of imperialism, which is the

In antiquity, colonialism was practiced by empires such as Ancient Greece,

T H E H I S T O R Y O F C O L U M B U S D A Y What is Columbus Day? Why

Colonial rationale and resistance

Benefits and harm

Colonial governments invested in infrastructure and trade and disseminated

What is the Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism?

Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism

• Categorized under Ideology,Miscellaneous | Difference Between Colonialism and

Colonialism is termed as building and maintaining colonies in one territory by

Read more: Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism | Difference

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