Imperialism
What is imperialism? How is imperialism different from colonialism? These lesson plans and resources introduce ideas like economic and cultural imperialism in a global historical context, helping students understand how today's empires compare with those of ancient history.

Featured Materials
Tools of Imperialism

Article
Tools of Imperialism
Imperialism was the idea that launched a thousand ships. The leaders of industrial empires used the ideas of imperialism to support their actions around the world.
Industrialization and Imperialism Thematic Map

Visual Aid
Industrialization and Imperialism Thematic Map
A full-color thematic map of Industrialization and Imperialism in 1871 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.
Colonial Violence

Article
Colonial Violence
Colonialism was all about control. This article examines how colonizers used and justified violence against their colonized subjects.
Lessons

Lesson 7.9
Industrial Imperialism
Empires were nothing new—but industrialization transformed them. Discover how industrialization fueled imperial expansion, reshaped global economies, and sparked conflict and resistance worldwide.
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Lesson 6.1
Rationales for Imperialism from 1750 to 1900 CE
Imperialism was defined by more than just land grabs. Industrialized nations justified expansion through ideologies of nationalism, racial theories, and religious zealotry.
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Materials
Opium Wars and Economic Imperialism

Article
Opium Wars and Economic Imperialism
The Opium Wars pitted the world’s two strongest economies against each other: the British Empire and Qing Dynasty China. The results transformed the global economy.
Contextualization: Opium Wars

Activity
Contextualization: Opium Wars
In this activity, you’ll build your contextualization skills by exploring what led to the Opium Wars and how empires challenged each other’s power.
Industrial Imperialism, the “New” Imperialism

Article
Industrial Imperialism, the “New” Imperialism
Imperialism changed dramatically when some parts of the world industrialized. Several factors led to this “new” imperialism.
The Berlin Conference

Article
The Berlin Conference
At the Berlin Conference, a bunch of Europeans gathered to plot ways to divide Africa. It may not have been the start of colonialism, but it sure accelerated the process.
Imperialism Cartoons

Activity
Imperialism Cartoons
In this activity, you’ll analyze and create cartoons to better understand how imperialism was viewed both by those who supported it and those who opposed it.