Impacts of Imperialism June 12th, 2017

Effects of Imperialism Through its course of time, imperialism had a major impact on both Western European culture and the regions conquered. Many of these impacts have had a lasting effect on our current day society.

Positive outcomes

Economical Establishment of a global economy – developed a new sense of globalization for the world. Globalization: the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. Example: Canadian fur trade Cultivation of new crops & new resources

Introduction of modern technologies Transportation Weapons Infrastructure Farming methods Introduction of industrialization (in colonized regions) Introduction of education and health care Exchanging of cultural ideas & traditions (limited) The general development of the imperialized region.

Negative Outcomes

Cultural Imperialism Ethnocentrism brought forward the assimilation of the Native Peoples. Imposing and forcing European traditions & social structure on the Native Peoples. “Cultural genocide” Ethnic conflicts that developed in the 20th Century (Rwanda & Nigeria) can be traced to imperial policies of ethnocentrism. Residential Schools in Canada

Introduction of new diseases By the late 1800s, millions of First Nations Peoples in Canada & the U.S. died from disease. In some cases, Indigenous groups were wiped out completely by disease.

Exploitation Indigenous peoples & Africans were exploited to work on plantations or farms as slaves or a form of cheap labour. Natural resources were taken without payment to territory – all wealth was funneled back to Europe. Imperialized regions (primarily Africa) were held back from developing industries – territories were only used for extraction of raw materials.

Wars between European Nations for land occurred. Political Territories that resisted expansion were often killed causing war and genocide. Wars between European Nations for land occurred. Although the Berlin Conference looked at averting war (which it did momentarily), war was inevitable. Show students map of developed world: Question for Index Card – In what ways does this map show the effects of old and new imperialism.

How do these two maps illustrate the impacts between Old and New Imperialism.

In what ways has imperialism still impacted our lives, society and the world today?