Colonialism is a process of domination, involving the subjugation of one people by another. Like colonialism, imperialism also involves political and economic control over a dependent territory. Practically the whole non-Western world was under one European power or the other for about four centuries, until decolonisation happened after World War II. This lesson covers the colonisation of South East Asia, Africa and India by European powers.
1. Colonialism and Imperialism – Meaning
| Term | Latin root | Meaning and idea |
|---|---|---|
| Colony | colonus – farmer | Usually involved the transfer of population to a new territory, where the arrivals lived as permanent settlers while keeping political allegiance to their country of origin |
| Imperialism | imperium – to command | The way one country exercises power over another, through settlement, sovereignty or indirect mechanisms of control |