imperialism

Imperialism is the policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations, countries, or colonies. This is either through direct territorial conquest or settlement, or through indirect methods of influencing or controlling the politics and/or economy. The rule of authority of a country is based on territory, economic establishment and political influence. The term is used to describe the policy of a nation's dominance over distant lands, regardless of whether the subjugated nation considers itself part of the empire. It is also considered the action by which one country controls another country or territory accomplished by military means to gain certain advantages. Imperialism helps one country gain power and domain over other areas. Imperialism can also be referred to as expansionism. An imperialist country, state, colony, or nation can be grouped as political, economic, religious, ideological, or exploratory. Throughout history, imperialism has been interperted from multiple perspective. some have been it as a beneficial influence, while others have seen it as a harmful influence. Imperialism was developed in the early 19th century after the Industrial Revolution when the western nations began to take control of other non-industrialized nations and colonies. The "Age of Imperialism" usually refers to the Old Imperialism period starting from 1860, when major European states started colonising the other continents. The term 'Imperialism' was initially coined in the mid to late 1500s to reflect the policies of countries such as Britain and France's expansion into Africa, and the Americas.

The makers of cotton and iron goods have been very much interested in imperialism. Their business intrests demand that colonies markets should be opened and devoloped and that foreign competitors should be shut out. An imperialist government is an government that tries