, , UPSC STUDY MATERIAL, 0
  • The process started with the emergence of nation states which were an outcome of the breaking of the Holy Roman Empire.
  • When these nation states France, Britain, Spain and Portugal etc. emerged on the scene they all started the process of colonization as per their capacity and situation.
  • The colonization of the northern coast of Africa by Spain and Portugal in the beginning and Britain and France later on during was an example of the same.
  • At first these colonies were used as trading posts and naval stations. The elements of direct economic exploitation were absent during this period.
  • The fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453 was responsible for the beginning of the age of geographical explorations and discoveries.
  • Till 1453, Constantinople was the main centre where Asian and European merchants were used to exchange their goods.
  • Many Asian products were in great demands in European markets and prominent among them were spices. Spices were also used to preserve foods to be consumed during winters.
  • This Spice trade got blocked with the fall of Constantinople and European nations started looking for a direct route between Europe and South-East Asia.
  • In 1487, Bartholomew Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco Da Gama reached India Successfully in 1498 by following the route tracked by Bartholomew Dias. The success of Vasco Da Gama marked the beginning of a new age of explorations.
  • The Portuguese trading company reached India in 1500. The Dutch company reached India in 1602, English Company in 1608, Danish company in 1616 and the French company in 1664. These European companies gradually colonized the whole of South East Europe.
  • In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered American Continent. Discovery of America started a gold rush.
  • By the end of 1700, the whole of American continent had been colonized by European powers.
  • Most of the northern part of American Continent was a colony of France, down below Britain had thirteen colonies on Eastern Coast.
  • Brazil was a Portuguese colony and the rest of Latin America was under colonial control of Spain.
  • In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan reached Philippine and within a few years the Philippines were captured by Spain and her colonial rule continued up to 1898 when it was replaced by American control.
  • Spain occupied most of South America, Central America, Mexico, West Indies and parts of what is now the USA. England and France occupied parts of North America.
  • This was the period of Slave trade where European slave traders enslaved and transported Africans to America for slavery.
  • The period between 16th to 18th centuries was a period of naked plunder.
  • During the period of Industrial Revolution the pursuit of colonies had slowed down but re-emerged in the last quarter of 19th century. This phase is often described as New Imperialism.
  • The spread of colonial empires was reduced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by the American Revolutionary War and the Latin American wars of independence.
  • The power of some of the imperialists such as Spain and Portugal declined and new countries like Germany, Italy, Belgium, USA, JAPAN etc. emerged.
  • However, decolonization outside the Americas lagged until after the Second World War.
  • In 1962 the United Nations set up a Special Committee on Decolonization, often called the Committee of 24, to encourage this process.
  • Further, dozens of independence movements and global political solidarity projects such as the Non-Aligned Movement were instrumental in the decolonization efforts of former colonies.
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