Significance of Imperialism in the period before 1914 Essay

Significance of Imperialism in the period before 1914 - Essay Example lism refers to the subjugation of states and societies of the Africa, Pacific, and Asia by European great powers during the 19th and the 20th century (Wait, 2003). Many of the Westerners believed that Europe had to civilize their brothers beyond the seas. It was as a moral obligation to civilize the uncivilized. Therefore, the Missionaries ended up supporting colonization believing that European control would be helpful in spreading Christianity to the colonies (Rosenthal & RodicÃŒ , 2015). The spread of Christianity had both positively and negatively influence on the world. On a positive note, the spread of Christianity opened up the rest of the colonies and enabled the advancement of formal education and the civilization of the regions. Christianity ultimately led to the development and growth of the colonies. On a wider scope, the spread of Christianity also contributed to an end to the slave trade in the Pacific Ocean (Rosenthal & RodicÃŒ , 2015). On the other hand, the spread of Christianity impacted negatively as it was one of the key sources of first World War. The imperialist nations scrambled and grabbed colonies in the name of spreading the â€Å"Good News’ and Evangelism contributing to tensions amongst them. The result of such tensed relationship led to the formation of blocks that fueled the occurrence of World War I (Rosenthal & RodicÃŒ , 2015). The expansion course traced back to the Iberian voyage of the discovery of the fifteenth century. By 1900, the British had a colony on 400 million subjects as well as the quarter of the globe. The French had a possession of six million square miles and fifty-two million people. Germany had acquired six million square miles and had fifteen million people under its authority (Bönker, 2012). The primary aim for the scramble was for economic advancement, which ultimately led to capitalism. Powerful European nations acquired colonies that had abundant resources. Minerals such as gold and other