The 18 th Century and Beyond: Imperialism

1. The 18th Century and Beyond:Imperialism

2. Overview of the 18th Century Modernization Theory: - Accounts for a countries political movement from traditional to modern societies and political ideals - A traditional society, with assistance, can become modern VS. Dependency Theory:- The creation of third world nations in which labour can be kept cheap to fuel a separate countries economic growth - Resources flow from the periphery to the core

3. Mercantilism • An economic theory that believed the world only contained a fixed amount of wealth and that to increase a country’s wealth, one country had to take some wealth from another either by having a higher import/export ratio or in actual conquest of new lands and resources. • Economic unity, political control -Between 1600 and 1800 Western Europe was consumed by this concept as well as ‘Bullionism’ - the belief that the economic health of a nation could be measured by the amount of precious metal, gold, or silver, which it possessed.

4. This leads to… The Commercial Revolution: • Rise of money economy • Changing social and political structure • Larger merchant/middle class • Truly poor proletariat (urban) • Absolute Monarchies develop (we’ll get to that!) • To increase their countries wealth a Mercantilist government focused on: • exports over imports • industrialization over agriculture • the protection of domestic production against competition from imports • the intervention in trade to promote domestic employment • Why and how do you think they did these things?

5. Does anyone know what this map tells us? It tells us that the British aren’t so reserved after all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWedTbuAtR4

6. Major Players in this Century • Russia, Britain, France and Prussia (Austria-Germany) were the major powers • Britain controlled most land overseas and beat France in multiple battles securing the West, including the Maritimes and many parts of Africa • Russia expanded south-east and defeated parts of the Ottoman Empire

7. Africa • The intrusion of the British, French and Spanish on Africa forever changed the continent. • Slave trade and those who were against slave trading-mostly ended in Canada by 1800’s -Louis XIV’s ‘Code Noir’ • Dutch colonies in South Africa (Cape Town) and their effects on life there -Anglo/Dutch Wars -Settlers vs. Conquerors

8. Joseph Conrad, A Heart of Darkness, 1899. Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth!…The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires. (Conrad 6) Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency—the devotion to efficiency. But these chaps were not much account, really. They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect. They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force—nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others. They grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind—as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness. The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it's the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea. (Conrad 13) Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, 1958. (http://www.shmoop.com/things-fall-apart/)

9. “The White Man’s Burden” Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child.Take up the White Man's burden--In patience to abide,To veil the threat of terrorAnd check the show of pride;By open speech and simple,An hundred times made plainTo seek another's profit,And work another's gain.Take up the White Man's burden--The savage wars of peace--Fill full the mouth of FamineAnd bid the sickness cease;And when your goal is nearestThe end for others sought,Watch sloth and heathen FollyBring all your hopes to nought.Take up the White Man's burden--No tawdry rule of kings,But toil of serf and sweeper--The tale of common things.The ports ye shall not enter,The roads ye shall not tread,Go mark them with your living,And mark them with your dead.

10. Take up the White Man's burden--And reap his old reward:The blame of those ye better,The hate of those ye guard--The cry of hosts ye humour(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--"Why brought he us from bondage,Our loved Egyptian night?"Take up the White Man's burden--Ye dare not stoop to less--Nor call too loud on FreedomTo cloke your weariness;By all ye cry or whisper,By all ye leave or do,The silent, sullen peoplesShall weigh your gods and you.Take up the White Man's burden--Have done with childish days--The lightly proferred laurel,The easy, ungrudged praise.Comes now, to search your manhoodThrough all the thankless yearsCold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,The judgment of your peers! -R. Kipling, 1899

11. India • British colonial monopoly via 7 Years War • Because of the East India Trading Company, India flourished (cotton, silk, dye, salt, tea, opium) • Rich in resources and goods to trade • Mongols: British provincial governors ruled over local land owners (aka Zamindars) • This caused turmoil between the two • Citizens were taxed heavily to fund British armies (especially salt)

12. China • Was praised by many as being virtuous and wise • Demand in silver rose and trade with Britain began – Tea for silver • Demand became too high and Britain gave the Chinese opium (sold through Calcutta) -This drug became a major source of addiction and forever changed China -Opium Wars (mid 19th), Britain gets Hong Kong, easier trade • Fine China (plates, etc.) were in high demand as well

13. Discussion • Why does all of this matter? • Were there any effects of this Century? What were they? Why were they important? • What modern day examples can we see of the effects of the 18th Century?