Colonization (British English: colonisation) is a process of establishing control over areas or peoples for foreign people to advance their trade, cultivation, exploitation and possibly settlement.

During the Industrial Revolution, demand for cotton, tin, and oil drove further colonization of resource-rich areas, including sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Medieval Europe was largely self-contained until the First Crusade (1096–99), which opened new political and commercial communications with the Muslim Middle East.

Apr 14, 2026 · Colonialism is a practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people [by] another. One of the difficulties in defining colonialism is that it is hard to distinguish it from …

Jun 27, 2025 · Merriam-Webster defines colonialism as “control by one power over a dependent area or people.” It occurs when one nation takes control of another for benefits such as resources. Often, …

As Europeans moved beyond exploration and into colonization of the Americas, they brought changes to virtually every aspect of the land and its people, from trade and hunting to warfare and personal …

Jul 19, 2024 · Colonialism occurs when people from one country settle in another country to exploit its people and natural resources. Colonial powers typically attempt to impose their languages and …