(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Hard of History

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 'Great Game' between European powers and the subsequent partition of Asia and Africa represented the culmination of an imperialist expansion process that had profound global implications. The control of trade routes, the search for raw materials, and the promotion of civilizational values were essential elements in this context. According to historian J. A. Hobson, imperialism was motivated both by the 'need for markets for surplus products' and by the 'need for investment for surplus profits'. Based on this perspective and your knowledge, analyze the following excerpt, reflecting on the justifications and mechanisms by which imperialism was established and maintained: 'The possession of vast territories in Asia, Africa, and America by imperialism gave capitalist nations an immense and unequal strength in international relations. [...] We have England with territories in all climates, which provide an incomparable stock of materials outside its borders for manufacturing; a spiritual empire in which the sun never sets.' - J. A. Hobson. In 'Imperialism: A Study' (1902). (1) Identify and describe the main political, economic, social, and cultural aspects that drove European imperialism in Asia and Africa. (2) Explain, based on Hobson's excerpt, how territorial control contributed to the inequality of forces between nations and how this relates to the concepts of 'need for markets' and 'need for investment' presented by the author.