EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM

Critical Analysis: European Imperialism by Porter, A

Critical Analysis: European Imperialism by Porter, A

European imperialism emerged in the early eighteen hundreds and continued on into the early nineteen hundreds. While Rome used imperialism as a means to acquire territory and land, (Ferguson, 2004, p.56-59) Europe had other means and motives to justify their imperialistic behavior. Europeans not only wanted to obtain land, but they also wanted to achieve power, politically and economically. The majority of the motivation for imperialism derived from the Industrial Revolution. The countries strived to obtain control over colonies in order to control strategic passages, such as the Straits of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. They also wanted the control of overseas bases to keep ships and troops supplied and ready whenever needed. Not all Europeans imperialistic motives were selfish though. A large number of Europeans went overseas to try and help unfortunate people. They felt as though they were offering their "blessings" to the "pitiful heathens". European governments imposed their laws on the people and taught them how to rule in a structured fashion. European missionaries spread (Smith, 1998, p. 45-47) Christianity and humanitarians promoted public health and education.

European control and power over other nations was not a new ideal prior to 1870; in fact the process was in place as early as the 14th century. Disease and geography are only two of the factors that prevented European colonization until the 19th century. Many factors led to the massive rise in imperialism after 1870, both internal and external. (Porter, 1996, p.1-100)

European imperialism stems from the capitalistic greed for cheap raw materials, advantageous markets, and good investments. These ideas motivated the search for new markets because Imperialists would rather invest in new markets rather than raise wages of domestic workers. Not only was the cheap production of goods a motivating factor, but the quest for markets to sell manufactured goods contributed as well. Going along with this greed was the drive to expand authority by land acquisition or economic and political control over other nations. (Ferguson, 2004, p.56-59)

The quest for economic domination and advantage

Europeans often denied the capitalistic greed as a factor in the cause of imperialism and had other ways of defining the motivation. Many stated that Imperialism was the natural effect of the idea of survival of the fittest.'(Porter, 1996, p.1-100) This is best represented by Rudyard Kipling in the book White Man's Burden,' which describes the notion that European Imperialism, was simply the natural way that stronger nations gained power and those unable to keep up would be taken over.

The Industrial Revolution also played a huge role in European imperialism. European nations had ease dominating non-Europeans due, in part, to the power retained from industrialization. The Industrial Revolution provided tools such as guns, railway systems, steamships, and others, (Smith, 1998, p. 45-47) making it easier to overcome nations with less technology. The new technology caused overseas transportation to be greatly improved, and masses of Europeans began to immigrate to other parts of the ...