Imperialism is a type of government that seeks to increase its size, either by forcing, or influencing other countries through war or politics, to submit to their rule1.
Throughout history, empires have controlled large geographical areas and subjected numerous nations to their military power and rule. Imperial powers throughout history have used different justifications for expansion. The idea that ‘Imperialism has always been driven by economic or strategic needs’ is true for both the British and Roman Empires. By analyzing the military expansion of both empires as well as the government systems and the eventual decline and downfall, it is also evident that this statement is true.
At its peak, the British Empire was the largest empire …show more content…
During their military expansion, one of the most important things the Roman Empire gained from defeating their enmies was land. The Roman Empire rearely had enough land to provide for all of it’s citizens. Roman politicians knew that they could relieve population pressures by fighting to gain more land. Leaders of the Empire actively sought wars. The Romans were not content with conquering land near to them. They realised that land further away might also have riches in them that would make the Empire wealthier and even more powerful. At the height of its power, around AD 150, Rome controlled the greatest empire ever seen in Europe at that time. Many of the conquered nations benefited from Roman rule as the Roman way of life was imposed on those conquered societies. Unlike the British Empire, which was driven purely by economic and strategic needs, the Roman Empire was also driven the ambition and desire for glory of its leaders among other …show more content…
The British government developed a policy of mercantilism in international trade. Mercantilism specifies that in order to build economic strength, a nation must export more goods than it imports. To achieve this, the English Parliament passed four Navigation Acts meant to ensure the proper mercantilist trade balance (See Appendix C). The colonists initially complained about this policy because it severely restricted colonial trade. By controlling trade, the British Empire could increase revenue, benefitting the British Empire
Throughout history, empires have controlled large geographical areas and subjected numerous nations to their military power and rule. Imperial powers throughout history have used different justifications for expansion. The idea that ‘Imperialism has always been driven by economic or strategic needs’ is true for both the British and Roman Empires. By analyzing the military expansion of both empires as well as the government systems and the eventual decline and downfall, it is also evident that this statement is true.
At its peak, the British Empire was the largest empire …show more content…
During their military expansion, one of the most important things the Roman Empire gained from defeating their enmies was land. The Roman Empire rearely had enough land to provide for all of it’s citizens. Roman politicians knew that they could relieve population pressures by fighting to gain more land. Leaders of the Empire actively sought wars. The Romans were not content with conquering land near to them. They realised that land further away might also have riches in them that would make the Empire wealthier and even more powerful. At the height of its power, around AD 150, Rome controlled the greatest empire ever seen in Europe at that time. Many of the conquered nations benefited from Roman rule as the Roman way of life was imposed on those conquered societies. Unlike the British Empire, which was driven purely by economic and strategic needs, the Roman Empire was also driven the ambition and desire for glory of its leaders among other …show more content…
The British government developed a policy of mercantilism in international trade. Mercantilism specifies that in order to build economic strength, a nation must export more goods than it imports. To achieve this, the English Parliament passed four Navigation Acts meant to ensure the proper mercantilist trade balance (See Appendix C). The colonists initially complained about this policy because it severely restricted colonial trade. By controlling trade, the British Empire could increase revenue, benefitting the British Empire