ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of European imperialism

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the timeline of European imperialism. Have you ever played the game of monopoly? In that game, players try to take over as many properties as they can to become the richest person in the game. Well, European countries did something similar in the past, but on a much bigger scale.

In the olden days, European countries like Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Britain, and France wanted to become the most powerful and wealthy countries in the world. So, they started exploring the world to find new lands and resources. They discovered many new places like America, Africa, and Asia, which were different from their own countries with different people, culture, and resources.

The European countries thought that they were superior to the rest of the world, and they believed that it was their duty to conquer and rule those lands. This practice is called imperialism because one country tries to control another country or group of people.

The timeline of European imperialism started in the 15th century when the Portuguese and Spanish began exploring the world. The Portuguese set up trading posts along Africa's coast, and the Spanish started colonizing America. In the 17th century, the Dutch joined the race and established colonies in Indonesia. Later, the British and French started competing and gained control over many colonies in Africa.

The Europeans used force and violence to subdue the people they conquered. They treated the native people as inferior, and they often exploited them for their resources. They also forced their religious beliefs and culture on the native people.

Imperialism lasted until the mid-20th century when the conquered countries started to fight back for their freedom. The colonized people wanted to govern themselves and have their own country. This fight for independence led to the downfall of imperialism.

In summary, European imperialism was a time when European countries explored, conquered, and ruled over different lands and people. It started in the 15th century and lasted until the mid-20th century. The European countries exploited the native people, treated them as inferior, and forced their culture and religion on them. The fight for independence led to the end of imperialism.