New Imperialism

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how the interaction and mutual reinforcement of technological innovations, nationalist motivations, and new imperialism created an entirely new global system by the beginning of the early 20th century. The writer points out that, during this time, European powers controlled large portions of the world's land mass, including China, India, and Africa. The root cause of this explosion in colonialism can be found in the nationalistic motivations of European nations, which desired to affirm the supremacy of their countries through expansion and domination. It argues that the success of new imperialism can be traced to the development and adaptation of new technologies like quinine, steel-hulled gunboats, breech-loading rifles, railroads, and the telegraph. It explains how these technologies allowed European powers unprecedented access to India, China, and Africa, thus providing the means for the advent of the new imperialism. In turn, the success of the new imperialism reaffirmed the colonialist belief in their nationalistic motivations and the supremacy of their nation.

From the Paper:

"By the early 20th century, a new and distinctive global system had developed out of the interaction and mutual reinforcement of technological innovations, nationalist motivations, and new imperialism. Nationalist motivations to acquire land and glory for the good of one's nation likely played an important part in driving the new imperialism that characterized the beginning of the 19th century. In turn, technology provided a means for countries like Britain and France to expand their overseas territories, and thus bring many of their nationalist dreams to fruition. Overall, the interplay between nationalist motivations, new imperialism and technological innovation was a complex and profoundly important factor in the history of the early 20th century and late 19th century."

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