ANSWER:

The history of colonialism goes back thousands of years, colonialism is the taking over of one country by another.

In ancient times peoples such as the Hittites and the Incas were involved in colonialism.

However people usually use the word colonialism to talk about the European overseas empires rather than LAND-based empires.

Overseas empires include British rule in India and French rule in Algeria - both of which could only be reached by ships.

Land based empires are usually described as imperialism and include:

The Mongol Empire, a large empire stretching from the Western Pacific to Eastern Europe

• The Empire of Alexander the Great
• The Umayyad Caliphate
• The Persian Empire
• The Roman Empire
• The Byzantine Empire.

The Ottoman Empire was created across Mediterranean, North Africa and into Southern Europe and existed during the time of European colonization of the other parts of the WORLD.

European colonialism began in the fifteenth century when the Spanish and Portuguese began exploring the Americas, and the coasts of Africa, the Middle East, India, and East Asia.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, England, France and Holland made their own overseas empires.

However the end of the EIGHTEENTH and early NINETEENTH century many European colonies in the Americas gained their independence.

Spain and Portugal became weakened after the loss of their New World colonies and could not get back the power they once had.

But Britain, France and Holland turned their attention to South Africa, India and South East Asia and began expanding.

In the nineteenth century Europe underwent industrialization, the population got larger, armies became more organised and had better weapons produced in factories.

This time became known as the era of New Imperialism.

Very quickly European powers were able to take over land and included the Scramble for Africa.