The Limitations Of European Imperialism In The 19th Century

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The 19th century marked a time of change for European imperialism which, given their past advantages, defined their ultimate position as one of the world’s dominating forces. Previously, European imperialism was focused on gaining power in the form of territory and economic domain through military and political might. The transition from the system of old imperialism to that of new imperialism took root in the adaptation of foreign policies and a shift from a primarily force based power to one of diplomacy and international economic relations. Despite previously held advantages, not all interactions during this time were fruitful for the Europeans, as they also faced challenges and limitations that inhibited their goals. European colonization from 1492-1800 was highly focused on direct control. This direct control was often obtained through territorial ownership or through control of the government by means of military force. In most cases, the driving force behind this was maximum economic control. The territories that Europe took control of were meant to provide more economic opportunities for Europe through direct control of their economies and resources, such as within the European American and Indian colonies. Due to this form of control, interactions with non-European people were limited to …show more content…
Rather than having to put forth the monetary and political effort needed for direct control, international relations allowed economic growth for the European powers without the obligations that came with conquering and supporting full nations. For the most part, Europe focused the imperial expansion of the 19th century on trade rather than on territory as it had