By: Kevin Tang
Examine imperialism in Central and Southeast Asia. What nations were involved? What were the most valuable areas? How different were the varieties of colonial rule? How were Central and Southeast Asia transformed by European conquests?
Nations Involved with the colonization of South East and Central Asia
South east Asia:
The Imperialism of Southeast Asia was mainly influenced by the amount of trade between India, southeast Asia, and China. Many countries like Great Britain wanted to expand their trade, so colonizing in Southeast Asia allowed them to have safer and more efficient trade routes. Also, other countries wanting to use their ports in these colonized areas would have to pay heavy taxes. Along with Great Britain, France was involved in the imperialism of Southeast Asia. Although the French failed to establish themselves in India, they established a larger southeast Asian colony of French Indochina, which consisted of modern day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, between 1859 and 1893. The countries colonization can be seen in the map below.
Central Asia:
The Imperialism in Central Asia was dominated by the Great Game. During the nineteenth century Russia took a systematic effort to extend their authority south of the Caucasus, and with the weakening of the Ottoman and Qing empires, Russian expansion had an opportunity in Central Asia. The cossacks had overcome Tashkent, Bokhara, and Samarkand in the 1860s.
The Imperialism of Southeast Asia was mainly influenced by the amount of trade between India, southeast Asia, and China. Many countries like Great Britain wanted to expand their trade, so colonizing in Southeast Asia allowed them to have safer and more efficient trade routes. Also, other countries wanting to use their ports in these colonized areas would have to pay heavy taxes. Along with Great Britain, France was involved in the imperialism of Southeast Asia. Although the French failed to establish themselves in India, they established a larger southeast Asian colony of French Indochina, which consisted of modern day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, between 1859 and 1893. The countries colonization can be seen in the map below.
Central Asia:
The Imperialism in Central Asia was dominated by the Great Game. During the nineteenth century Russia took a systematic effort to extend their authority south of the Caucasus, and with the weakening of the Ottoman and Qing empires, Russian expansion had an opportunity in Central Asia. The cossacks had overcome Tashkent, Bokhara, and Samarkand in the 1860s.
Valuable Areas in Southeast and Central Asia
Some of the most valuable areas included Burma which provided a source of teak, ivory, rubies, and jade. By the 1880's, England had established colonial authority in Burma. Also Singapore served as a valuable area because after creating the port of Singapore in 1824 by Thomas Stamford Raffles, it soon became the busiest center of trade in the Strait of Melaka. This allowed Singapore to serve as the base for British conquest of Malaya which provided abundant supplies of tin and rubber. These conquests gave British lots of power because British could control many of the sea-lanes linking the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea.
Varieties of Colonial Rule in Southeast Asia and Central Asia
Much of Central Asia was in the Russian Empire. During the Great Game, Russia had mapped terrain, scouted mountain passes, and sought alliances with local rulers from Afghanistan to the Aral Sea. This was done to prepare the anticipated war for India; however, World War 1 and the fall of the tsarist government ensured that there was no contest over India. The French colonial officials created European style schools and sought to establish close connections with the native elite. British, and Russia did not encourage conversion to Christianity among their colonies, but the French officials created churches and infrastructure to encourage their colonies to convert.
Transformation as a Result of Imperialism in Southeast and Central Asia
The Asian states were largely affected due to the colonization embarked by the European powers and Russia. Because the French encouraged conversion to Christianity, the Roman Catholic church became more prominent in modern day Vietnam. This exposure to new culture changed people and how they lived. Also the established European schools created new ideas for different education systems, and affected the cultures in the colonies.