Imperialism in the nineteenth century differed from the old colonial system greatly, and became an incredibly influential concept. Britain was the only colonial power left standing after Napoleon's defeat, and during most of the nineteenth century there was no incentive for other countries to expand; free trade kept them content, and there was no time or money to be put into imperialism, between the constant revolutions shaking Europe. However, from around 1870 onward, more of the less developed countries began to be taken over by these European powers.
Africa was a perfect place for the Europeans to start settling; the countries were always fighting and were thus weak, Europe already had weakened them with the slave trade, and as it was mostly unknown, it was an ideal place to start finding new discoveries. After missionaries and explorers got the first glimpse, Belgium took the opportunity and began taking land along the Congo river. Not wanting to fall behind, other countries followed. Germany started to take eastern Africa, France followed Belgium into the Congo, and the Portuguese attempted to join Mosambique and Angola. In 1885, Bismarck called the Berlin Conference, which would decide how Africa would be claimed and tried to end the slave trade. After these rules were set, nearly the entire continent was taken over in the next fifteen years, except for the independent Ethiopia and Liberia. This completely set Africa back, as the inhabitants were suppressed by white men, and the continent became subject to Europeanization.
In Asia, there was a great scramble for all the abundant natural resources. France claimed Vietnam, the Dutch took Java and the Philippines, Germany took the Jiaozhou Bay, and even Japan, not even a European country, took their piece of the imperialistic pie in Korea. Britain gained much power, in Hong Kong, Burma, and especially India, which had already been a fruitful colony and was now almost completely controlled by them.
Needless to say, all of these invasions did not please the natives, especially on Britain's part and in Africa. During the frenzy of claiming Africa, France's attempt to make a fully French line across Africa and Germany's to make a German line splitting Africa, with men such as Cecil Rhodes pressing on through from bottom to top, conflicted, and other such conflicts ended in the Fashoda and Moroccan Crises, which led to high tension between the countries. On Britain's end, there was little tolerance for the native Indians' culture, and this showed as the Sepoy Rebellion arose. The sepoys, native Indians hired in the British military, were informed that the cartridges for their weapons were slicked with animal fat, and as Hindus and Muslims are forbidden from coming into contact with beef or pork, respectively, they reacted violently, ending in a brutal suppression by Britain and full control of the Indian government. In China, as the trade of Indian-grown opium from Britain to China grew, so did the problem of opium addiction in China. The Chinese government decided to take control of the amount of imports, and Britain went to war, easily crushing China's navy. Though these conflicts often cropped up, by 1900, most of the world was taken over by European powers.
Africa was a perfect place for the Europeans to start settling; the countries were always fighting and were thus weak, Europe already had weakened them with the slave trade, and as it was mostly unknown, it was an ideal place to start finding new discoveries. After missionaries and explorers got the first glimpse, Belgium took the opportunity and began taking land along the Congo river. Not wanting to fall behind, other countries followed. Germany started to take eastern Africa, France followed Belgium into the Congo, and the Portuguese attempted to join Mosambique and Angola. In 1885, Bismarck called the Berlin Conference, which would decide how Africa would be claimed and tried to end the slave trade. After these rules were set, nearly the entire continent was taken over in the next fifteen years, except for the independent Ethiopia and Liberia. This completely set Africa back, as the inhabitants were suppressed by white men, and the continent became subject to Europeanization.
In Asia, there was a great scramble for all the abundant natural resources. France claimed Vietnam, the Dutch took Java and the Philippines, Germany took the Jiaozhou Bay, and even Japan, not even a European country, took their piece of the imperialistic pie in Korea. Britain gained much power, in Hong Kong, Burma, and especially India, which had already been a fruitful colony and was now almost completely controlled by them.
Needless to say, all of these invasions did not please the natives, especially on Britain's part and in Africa. During the frenzy of claiming Africa, France's attempt to make a fully French line across Africa and Germany's to make a German line splitting Africa, with men such as Cecil Rhodes pressing on through from bottom to top, conflicted, and other such conflicts ended in the Fashoda and Moroccan Crises, which led to high tension between the countries. On Britain's end, there was little tolerance for the native Indians' culture, and this showed as the Sepoy Rebellion arose. The sepoys, native Indians hired in the British military, were informed that the cartridges for their weapons were slicked with animal fat, and as Hindus and Muslims are forbidden from coming into contact with beef or pork, respectively, they reacted violently, ending in a brutal suppression by Britain and full control of the Indian government. In China, as the trade of Indian-grown opium from Britain to China grew, so did the problem of opium addiction in China. The Chinese government decided to take control of the amount of imports, and Britain went to war, easily crushing China's navy. Though these conflicts often cropped up, by 1900, most of the world was taken over by European powers.