Vocabulary List for Imperialism in Asia and Africa – Honors & Regular – 0607a

NOTE: The definitions of colonialism and imperialism are very similar. The key difference is that colonialism usually involves settlement and obvious control, while imperialism can be less obvious.

Assimilation - The process whereby an individual or group is absorbed into the social structures and cultural life of another person, group, or society.

Colonialism – Direct control of overseas territories and peoples by a powerful nation, usually involving the settlement of people from the powerful nation into the controlled territory; a foreign power rules a large group of people; the foreign power uses the controlled territory and people for wealth and has more advanced technology than the controlled people.

Direct rule - a form of colonial administration used primarily by the French, Belgians, Germans, and Portuguese characterized by centralized administrations governed from top to bottom by officials drawn from the imperial country; this model stressed policies of assimilation for the controlled local peoples.

Dominion - dominance or power through legal authority; A name applied to self-governing divisions of the British Empire owing allegiance to the crown.

imperialism - Intentional policy on the part of a nation-state of extending its power and control over other nations and peoples, either by directly taking territory or through the exercise of political or economic power.

Indirect rule - a colonial policy widely practiced by the British and occasionally by imperialistic powers; its purpose was to incorporate the local power structure into the controlling country’s ruling structure. An imperial governor and council of advisors made laws for each colony, but local rulers loyal to the governor kept some of their traditional authority.

Mass movement – a broadly popular political or cultural phenomenon where both elite and common people work together to achieve some common goal.

nationalism - loyalty and devotion to a country or ethnic group that places emphasis on promoting the interests, cultural and social values, or religion of one group above all others. The desire by a colonized people to be free of the foreign power that dominates them.

Partition – to divide into parts, pieces, or sections

Puppet ruler - A person who seems to be of the same culture as the people he or she governs, but who owes his or her existence (or other major debt) to being installed, supported or controlled by a more powerful entity, typically a foreign power.

Raj – the Hindu word for reign; The British colonial government in India from the mid-18th century until the establishment of the state of India in 1947. They established a mixed form of government, ruling that huge country through a network of Indian politicians and civil servants.

plain list

Assimilation

Colonialism

Direct rule

Dominion

imperialism

Indirect rule

Mass movement

nationalism

Partition

Puppet ruler

Raj