As a teacher, it is essential to communicate a well-rounded view of history to your students. This means including discussions on imperialism, the practice of extending one country’s power and influence over another through colonialism or military force.
Two of the primary factors that led to imperialism were economic gain and national pride. It is essential to discuss both with your students to provide a comprehensive understanding of imperialism’s causes and consequences.
To teach students about imperialism, it is crucial to start with its definition and how it originated. Students should comprehend those Western European countries (and later the USA and Japan) started colonizing non-European lands from the sixteenth century onwards. European imperialism had a considerable impact on history, with significant consequences for those who lived it. Students must understand the different stages of imperialism and how they affected people living in the colonized regions.
It would be helpful to use primary sources, such as maps, letters between imperial powers, and accounts from those who lived through those times.
Moreover, it is also essential to talk about the reasons why imperial powers sought to expand their empires. Though greed was a significant factor, pride in national identity and the concept of the “white man’s burden” also played a role. Students may find it challenging to understand these concepts, but explaining it by providing real examples (the way European powers thought Africa and China needed to be “civilized” by their colonizers) can help.
Lastly, it is important to discuss the effects of imperialism on colonized peoples. Although the opening of new markets and a greater sharing of Western intellectual and scientific knowledge with non-European peoples has been beneficial in some cases, colonialism led to exploitation, the suppression of native cultures, and further marginalization of non-white peoples. One way to make the effects of imperialism resonant with students is to use evidence of how the legacy of imperialism still affects the developing world today.
In the end, teaching imperialism with sensitivity and accuracy will help students become more informed and thoughtful members of society. They will learn to look beyond the dominant narratives we hear, understand the complex nuances and consequences of imperialism, and appreciate how it continues to affect the world today.
