Western colonialism: Quick Facts

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Map of North America in 1763 using color coding to show colonial territories: the 13 American colonies in red along the Atlantic coast, other British territory in orange across much of present-day Canada, Spanish territory in purple covering most of the southern and western regions, Russian territory in green in the northwest, and large areas of unclaimed land in white. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay are labeled.

Peter the Hermit

Cantino planisphere

Historical illustration showing Spanish conquistadors overseeing Indigenous laborers constructing buildings and carrying materials amid the ruins of Tenochtitlan, later Mexico City.

Colorful Dutch colonial buildings with ornate facades line the waterfront in the Punda district of Willemstad, Curacao, under a clear blue sky.

Oil painting by Cornelis Claesz. van Wieringen showing Spanish Armada warships with tall sails and flags off the English coast, smaller boats in the foreground, cloudy sky above.

Sir John Hawkins

History of pepper in the spice trade

A collage featuring four colonial-era European figures in military and formal attire, a yellow map of Africa, and a vintage cartoon of imperialism in the background.

The Monroe Doctrine explained

How did Spain become a colonial power in America?

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Topics

évolué plantation indirect rule subsidiary system neocolonialism proprietary colony protectorate bandeira anticolonialism postcolonialism military government democracy Timeline of European colonization of Africa intelligence economic planning election public health mass transit public administration local government

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Key People

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Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore of Baltimore

British statesman

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Priscilla Alden

English colonist

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William Hobson

British colonial officer

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John Alden

English colonist

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer

Cecil Rhodes

Cecil Rhodes

prime minister of Cape Colony

Full-length portrait of Cardinal Richelieu by Philippe de Champaigne, showing him in red clerical robes holding a red book, standing beside a balustrade with a draped curtain behind.

Cardinal Richelieu

French cardinal and statesman

Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle

president of France

Full-length portrait of King George III in a red military uniform and black bicorne hat, standing outdoors with a distant building and cloudy sky in the background.

George III

king of Great Britain

William Pitt, the Elder

William Pitt, the Elder

prime minister of United Kingdom

Engraved portrait of William Penn wearing a dark coat, white cravat, and wide-brimmed hat, with shoulder-length curly hair.

William Penn

English religious leader

Robert Clive

Robert Clive

British colonial administrator

Hernán Cortés

Hernán Cortés

Spanish conquistador

Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese navigator

Leopold II

Leopold II

king of Belgium

Francisco Pizarro

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish explorer

Frederick Lugard

Frederick Lugard

British colonial administrator

René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle

René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle

French explorer

Robert Cecil, 3rd marquess of Salisbury

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd marquess of Salisbury

prime minister of United Kingdom

Title page of Richard Hakluyt's The Principall Navigations, Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation

Richard Hakluyt

British geographer