Imperialism

Imperialism 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, 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 Christianity and humanitarians promoted public health and education. The British writer Rudyard Kipling termed Europe’s benefiting of the "backward" peoples of Africa and Asia "The White Man’s Burden". Many European countries also had a desire to imperialism, africa, germany, wanted, control, britain, over, imperialistic, french, france, european, suez, protect, powers, motives, military, means, main, land, hundreds, europeans, economic, country, colonies, canal, whenever, wealth, two, though, territory, spread, reasons, people, overseas, order, obtain