Colonialism

Colonialism happens when a powerful country takes control of a weaker land. The powerful country is called the colonizer. Starting in the 1400s, European countries colonized large parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Colonialism changed the world in many lasting ways.

How Colonialism Worked

Colonizers took control of other peoples' land and resources. They often forced the local people to follow new laws and customs. Natural resources like gold, silver, and spices were sent back to the colonizing country. Local cultures and languages were sometimes suppressed.

The End of Colonialism

In the 1900s, people in colonized lands began fighting for their freedom. India gained independence from Britain in 1947. African nations won independence in the 1950s and 1960s. The effects of colonialism can still be felt in many parts of the world today.

Fun Facts

• At its peak, European countries controlled about 84 percent of the world's land.
• The Scramble for Africa in the late 1800s saw European nations divide up almost all of Africa.
• Many modern country borders were drawn by colonial powers, not by the people who lived there.

Did You Know?

Some colonies were thousands of miles away from the countries that controlled them, connected only by long ocean voyages.