Colonialism

Colonialism, political and economic subordination of an area by a geographically removed parent country. The ruling country is more technologically advanced than the colony. Often the rulers and the colonial subjects are of different races. Colonialism dates to the Phoenicians; Rome was the largest ancient colonizer. As a vehicle for European expansion, modern colonialism dates from c.1500. Colonialism may be both beneficial and detrimental: Developing areas may receive technological and economic advances, but may have a foreign culture forced upon them or have their resources exploited by the occupying state.