 The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.  The control of one nation by “transplanted” people of another nation — often a geographically distant nation that has a different culture and dominant racial or ethnic group.  The policy and practice of a power in extending control over weaker peoples or areas.  Colonization is often viewed as synonymous to imperialism.

 To expand territory and powers for example the Roman and the British empire.  To extend and control trade for example Marco Polo discovered Asia. Batholomew Diaz went on to discover a shorter route to India around Africa and Vasco da Gama reached India. This also includes the control of the Maldives by the Portuguese and the British in the 18 th century.  To avoid religious persecution for example America was found so that people could have more freedom of religious practise after the Protestant Reformation movement in Europe. This was a movement to reform the Catholic church.

 To spread a particular religion for example Christopher Columbus’ trip to America in 1492 was meant to spread Christianity in the Continent. This also explains how Maldives became an Islamic country due to the influence of an Islamic trader.  To obtain riches for example gold and silver such was the motive of the Spaniards in Central and South America in the 15 th century. In Maldives people were interested in cowries which were a form of currency for trading in Asia and some parts of Eastern Africa.  To obtain land for settlement and agriculture, one example of this type of colonization is the expansion of the Greeks from 800BC-600 BC. Faced with an increased population the Greeks ended up occupying the Italian peninsula, Sicily and some parts of the western Mediterranean and around the shores of the Black Sea.

 To obtain raw materials for their factories and markets for their finished goods. Much of Africa was colonized by European countries for this purpose.  To secure geopolitical influence. For example after Maldives was granted independence by the British in 1965, the Soviet Union made indications of interest in occupying Goa Island which was previously a British military base. This was however, turned down by the Maldivians.  To secure land for convicts. This was the main reason for the British settlement in Australia so as to provide a place of punishment where convicts could be sent.

 In some instances it was a means to solving problems at home such as the large number of people put out of employment as a result of the invention of machines during the industrial revolution.  For some European leaders such as Leopold 11 of Belgium colonization was a means to increasing personal wealth. He regarded the Congo as his personal assert.