Causes of Imperialism

                Political and strategic.

                The power and prestige of a country was measured by the number of colonies which they controlled.

                In addition, some of these countries also wanted to control  strategic points for commercial routes, such as Great Britain.

 

                Demographic.

                Europe’s population had grown greatly during the 19th century (from 300 in 1870 to 400 in 1914). Hence, the colonies were conceived as an extension  of the metropolises so that the population moved there.

                Migration reduced unemployment and social conflicts in the countries of origin.

 

                Economic.

               New markets were sought for the industrial products.

               Many raw materials were needed for the growing industrial sector.

               Capitalism stimulated investment in other territories.

 

                Geographic and technical.

               There were many explorers who created societies in order to explore new unknown areas, such as Africa.

               New means of transportation, such as the steamboat, allowed for better exploration of the world.

             The opening of new commercial routes, such as the Suez Canal (1869), was essential in fulfilling the desire of exploration

 

               Cultural and ideological.

              The white man had the duty of controlling the world and evangelising it based on pseudo-Darwinist ideas.

               Hence, the western world had to civilise the rest of the planet.