Dubbed the Age of Imperialism, the 17th-20th century was a time of immense growth and expansion, during which the majority of European states sought to extend their influence and wealth through the expansion of their territories overseas. The promise of economic growth and prestige encouraged European nations to expand their territories. However, eventually the European powers turned on each other to enlarge their own empires. Imperialism began with the division of the African continent between European countries, and later moved onto Asia, where the main reason for colonisation was the extensive opportunities for trading. Briefly after this, European nations began challenging each other over territory which was highlighted by the dispute over
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What is known as the First Moroccan Crisis arose when Kaiser Wilhelm II wished to divide the Franco-Anglo Entente, and so visited the French influenced Morocco and pushed for Morocco’s independence from France. The manoeuvre backfired but set the scene for the Second Moroccan Crisis. French presence in Agadir, the capital of Morocco, led the Germans to believe that the French wished to take full control of Morocco. The Germans believed Morocco should fall to them and demanded that France turn over territory in the French Congo to Germany in return for Morocco. However, Britain backed France and Germany only received a small strip of French territory in Africa. With all the land in Africa divided, the British and Dutch occupying most of Asia, the British Empire controlling most of the Pacific and North America and Spanish and Portuguese settlements in South America, the most efficient way to extend their empire for nations such as Germany was to take it from other European powers. European states turned on each other to grow their …show more content…
Following the First World War, the victorious nations divided large amounts of the German Empire between them. Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France, Czechoslovakia gained land from Germany. Belgium too received a small slice of German territory in the east. German territories in Africa were invaded by British, French, Belgian, and South African military forces during the war itself. Japan captured Germany’s island territories to the north while Australia and New Zealand seized southern German island for the British Empire. Under the Treaty of Versailles Germany was forced to forfeit almost 70,000 square kilometers to the Allied Forces. In addition, Germany lost between 6.5 and 7 million people to other countries. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was also abolished and divided into separate countries, including Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and what would later become Yugoslavia. In addition, the Ottoman Empire was ended and it’s territories and colonies shared between the British and the French.
Conclusively, Imperialism began with European nations conquering vast expanses of the rest of the world, most notably Africa and Asia. However, when new land had become scarce, disputes became common and European powers resorted to attacking each other to strengthen and protect their empires .Alliances were formed in the best interest of the empires, and the shared resources and
What is known as the First Moroccan Crisis arose when Kaiser Wilhelm II wished to divide the Franco-Anglo Entente, and so visited the French influenced Morocco and pushed for Morocco’s independence from France. The manoeuvre backfired but set the scene for the Second Moroccan Crisis. French presence in Agadir, the capital of Morocco, led the Germans to believe that the French wished to take full control of Morocco. The Germans believed Morocco should fall to them and demanded that France turn over territory in the French Congo to Germany in return for Morocco. However, Britain backed France and Germany only received a small strip of French territory in Africa. With all the land in Africa divided, the British and Dutch occupying most of Asia, the British Empire controlling most of the Pacific and North America and Spanish and Portuguese settlements in South America, the most efficient way to extend their empire for nations such as Germany was to take it from other European powers. European states turned on each other to grow their …show more content…
Following the First World War, the victorious nations divided large amounts of the German Empire between them. Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France, Czechoslovakia gained land from Germany. Belgium too received a small slice of German territory in the east. German territories in Africa were invaded by British, French, Belgian, and South African military forces during the war itself. Japan captured Germany’s island territories to the north while Australia and New Zealand seized southern German island for the British Empire. Under the Treaty of Versailles Germany was forced to forfeit almost 70,000 square kilometers to the Allied Forces. In addition, Germany lost between 6.5 and 7 million people to other countries. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was also abolished and divided into separate countries, including Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and what would later become Yugoslavia. In addition, the Ottoman Empire was ended and it’s territories and colonies shared between the British and the French.
Conclusively, Imperialism began with European nations conquering vast expanses of the rest of the world, most notably Africa and Asia. However, when new land had become scarce, disputes became common and European powers resorted to attacking each other to strengthen and protect their empires .Alliances were formed in the best interest of the empires, and the shared resources and