The Age of Imperialism and Its Impact on India, Japan and China

The period from 1870-1914 is generally referred to as the age of imperialism, a period when the nations of Western Europe embarked upon a race for overseas empires that held profound implications for the entire world. A large part of recorded history deals with the rise and fall of empires. Europeans themselves have been among the most expansionist and imperialist of peoples throughout the ages, however the imperialist phenomenon of the late nineteenth century had distinctive features with far reaching effects.

This "new imperialism" was aimed at the underdeveloped world and it led to the domination and exploitation of Asia. What were the specific implications for India, Japan and China? Why did India wind up under the direct control of the British, while China and Japan escaped such a fate? By looking at the character and outcome of Western imperialism in these three countries, we may come to a broader understanding of the nature of Western imperialism in Asia. The causes for and impact of imperialism in Asia were many and complex, but unequivocally, one of the most popular explanations of modern imperialism concerns economics. In fact, modern imperialism is often referred to as "economic imperialism," and there is just enough empirical evidence in favor of these explanations to make them plausible, in terms of the imperialist outcomes and impacts for Japan, China and India.