Contextualization

The period between the late 19th century and early 20th century witnessed a significant global shift known as the 'New Imperialism.' This phenomenon was characterized by a surge of European powers, particularly Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy, establishing colonies in Asia and Africa.

The primary motivation for this expansion was a combination of economic, political, and social factors. Economically, these European powers were seeking new markets for their industrial goods and raw materials for their growing industries. Politically, the colonies were seen as a measure of national might and prestige, with each European power keen on outdoing the other. Socially, the concept of 'Social Darwinism' was prevalent, with Europeans considering themselves racially superior and, therefore, entitled to rule over 'lesser' peoples.

This era of New Imperialism had profound and long-lasting effects on the regions that were colonized. In Africa, for instance, the European powers divided the continent amongst themselves in the infamous 'Scramble for Africa,' with little regard for existing cultural, ethnic, or linguistic boundaries. This legacy of arbitrary borders has, in many cases, resulted in ongoing conflicts and tensions.

Similarly, in Asia, European powers established colonies, sparking nationalist movements and resistance that would later culminate in independence struggles. The effects of this period are still evident in modern-day Asia and Africa, making it a crucial period to study and understand.

Resources

1. Khan Academy: The "New" Imperialism
2. BBC Bitesize: The Causes of New Imperialism
3. Crash Course History: Imperialism
4. Encyclopedia Britannica: New Imperialism
5. Stanford University: The Scramble for Africa
6. National Geographic: The Scramble for Africa
7. The Guardian: The legacy of colonialism in Africa
8. Asia Society: The Age of Imperialism
9. BBC Bitesize: The British Empire in India
10. National Geographic: Imperialism in Southeast Asia

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Global Conquerors: A Journey into the New Imperialism"

Objective of the Project

The main objective of this project is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the causes, events, and consequences of the New Imperialism in Asia and Africa. This will be achieved through a fun and interactive role-playing game that involves research, teamwork, and creativity.

Detailed Description of the Project

In this project, each group will be assigned a European power (Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, or Italy) and a specific region in either Asia or Africa. The groups will then research and prepare a presentation as if they were representatives of their assigned European power, justifying their colonization of the chosen region.

The presentation should include:

1. A brief historical background of the European power and the chosen region.
2. The reasons why the European power was interested in the chosen region (economic, political, social).
3. The methods used by the European power to establish control over the region.
4. The impact of the colonization on the region (positive and negative).
5. A conclusion summarizing the main points and the group's personal opinions on the colonization.

Necessary Materials

• Internet access for research.
• Access to a word processing program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs for preparing the presentation.
• Access to a presentation program like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides for creating the presentation.
• Art supplies for creating visuals (optional).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying out the Activity

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group will be assigned a European power and a specific region in either Asia or Africa.
3. Using the provided resources and any other reliable sources they may find, each group will research their assigned European power and the chosen region.
4. Based on their research, each group will prepare a presentation as if they were representatives of their assigned European power, justifying their colonization of the chosen region.
5. The presentation should include a brief historical background, the reasons for colonization, the methods used, the impact of colonization, and a conclusion. Visual aids are encouraged.
6. Once the presentations are ready, each group will present their findings to the class.

Project Deliveries

1. Each group will submit their presentation in the form of a document or a link to an online presentation (Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.).
2. Each group will also write a report detailing their research process, the content of their presentation, and the lessons they learned.

The written report must contain:

• Introduction: The group should introduce their assigned European power and the chosen region, and why they think the colonization of this region by this European power is significant.
• Development: This section should detail the research process, the methodology used, and the results obtained. The students should discuss the main points from their presentation, including the historical background, reasons for colonization, methods used, and the impact of colonization. They should also elaborate on the lessons they learned from this project and how it contributed to their understanding of the New Imperialism.
• Conclusion: The group should summarize the main points of their presentation and state their conclusions about the project.
• Bibliography: The students should include a list of the sources they used for their research.

This project should take around five hours per student to complete and will be due two weeks from the day the project is assigned. The report should be written in a formal tone, and the students should use proper citations for any sources they use in their research.