How Did Julius Caesar Contribute To The Rise Of Imperialism

F rom the Caesar to Charlemagne: Julius Caesar occupied Gaul the people he found living in the modern Belgium were the Belgae, one of the various Celtic tribes of early Gaul. The Romans called their new province Gallia Belgica. Several centuries later Charlemagne reunited Gaul and added most of Western Europe to his empire. His successors were not equal to the task of keeping the empire intact and gradually Belgium was split into Flanders, the northwestern part it fell to France and the southeastern part went to Germany.
Medieval times: The power of the Counts of Flanders and cities on important commercial routes such as Bruges, Ghent and Ypres became very wealthy with the result that Belgium consisted of strong encouraged and virtually independent cities in Flanders and less unified cities in the south.
In the 16 century a long period of instability began. Low Countries was the rise of Protestantism. Treaty of Munster was signed in 1648, not only allowing independence to the Netherlands but more disastrously for Antwerp allowing the closing of the Scheldt River to navigation. Meaning that Antwerp lost their commercial status.
The long road to independence: France made several attempts to extend its control over Belgium. None of the other people in Europe were particularly keen to see this happen with the result that battles were fought over and in Belgium. The Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713 were France agreed to leave Belgium to Habsburg rules of Austria. Meaning virtual independence for Belgium, but not for long as infighting among the Belgians and the rise of Napoleon helped to return Belgium under French rule. On the 20th January 1831 Belgium was finally granted