Under imperialism (of lat. imperare "prevail "; imperium "rule area "; e.g. Imperium Romanum) one understands the efforts of a state to expand its influence since other countries or peoples. Among other things economic, socio-economic, population-political, sociopolitical, nationalistic and mental-cultural motives can be the basis for this power extension politics.

Imperialism can be understood as a universal phenomenon, which is not to be specified on individual historical sections and peoples. In the science of history a temporal emphasis is put nevertheless on the age of the imperialism (approximately from the 1880er years to 1914/18).

Term history

The term became common "imperialism "in connection with the European expansion wave between 1840 and 1914. Imperialism actually means world realm/colonial empire formation after the sample of the Imperium Romanum of the antique ones: A power controlled those at that time well-known world.

For the first time the word was used "imperialism "for the great power efforts Bonapartes. The German historian Wolfgang Mommsen describes their development with view of the European states in the years 1885 to 1914 under the title "ages of the imperialism ". Indisputable it is however that itself end 19. Century striving for colonies in Europe as it were "globalisierte ". It is likewise indisputable that the international tensions between the European great powers to the 1, released thereby. World war it contributed and that with it "the age of the classical imperialism "ended.

Which concerns the German Reich, the linguistic impression remained so far unconsidered, that by imperial Germany went out - which reads English meaning of imperial imperially, why the imperial realm government abroad English-language was called logically imperially German Government - one at the same time impact giving, provocative word choice.

After the First World War the term was completely generally used "imperialism "for efforts, which - e.g. for ideological-missionary reasons - aim at a world domination or at least the rule over spacious areas outside of the own master country. Thus and/or speaks one spoke in particular of the Soviet imperialism and of the US imperialism. In the today's connection of the discussion, whether the current efforts of the USA can be called Neo imperialism it is spoken, with view of "the age of the imperialism "of "historical imperialism ".

In the Marxist historical theory since pink Luxembourg and W. Ith Lenin the imperialism is interpreted as special Entwicklungsstufe (stage) of capitalism, after Lenin is besides the state monopolyistic phase of this imperialism (Stamokap) the last phase of capitalism at all.

As reaction against the colonial empires established in the age of the imperialism independence fighters were established, which aimed at and often reached the independence from strange powers.

The term imperialism overlaps in many points with colonialism, since both practically identical phenomena designate. A difference lies however in the period, which is covered by the terms. During colonialism the entire colonial expansion since that 15. Century enclosure, refers imperialism in the science of history to the phase since the industrialization in the middle 19. Century. The category of the imperialism at the same time analyzes not only direct rule forms, but also indirect subordinate positions of Staaten.Jens Flemming: Colonialism, in: History. Encyclopedia of the scientific fundamental ideas. Reinbek with Hamburg: Rowohlt, 1994, ISBN 3-499-16331-4, S. 381f.

Imperialism before that 19. Century

Antique large realms

The first imperial expansions arose as a result of the concentration of power in the case of the accomplishment of large irrigation buildings and dam plants in China (Hoangho), India (Indus), Mesopotamien (Euphrates and Tigris) and Egypt (Nile), after Wittfogel in "the hydraulic cultures ". Name-giving then the growth of Rome became. According to the principle divide et impera (lat. = "divide and prevail ") gave it to the conquered areas however also a certain participation by self-determination of the population or their own government, which was represented by a governor. With the Pax Romana the Romans could befrieden thus their conquered areas by power division with the local Ethnien. For the Romans a surface realm arose as a result of this expansion.

Imperial large realms of Arabia, that Mongolia and the Osmani realm

Among the imperialisms the conquest of North Africa can be ranked by earlyIslamic Arabia.

Kolonialisation of the American continent

By the discovery the Kolonialisation of central and South America began Americas by Christoph Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci. Adventurers such as Hernando Cortes and Francisco Pizarro advanced the exploitation of the local resident Aztecs and Inkas for Spain. A goal was thus the conquest "of the uncivilized "population, who, contrary to the Spanish statements, was already very progressive but. The Spaniards under Cortes and Pizarro enslaved the Aztecs and Inkas. They acted to destroying (the culture) according to the principles conquering (country), and establishing (own states - > viceroy realms), one spoke therefore of the Konquistadoren system of Spain (of the Spanish word conquista , "conquest" means). The Portuguese however established bases with the strange cultures and used this contact rather economically.

Articles in category "Imperialism"

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