Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction to Imperialism

Imperialism is a term that refers to a historical period that lasted basically from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, when the main European powers, and later the United States and Japan, expanded their political, economic, and cultural influences to other regions of the planet. This expansion occurred through several measures, such as the direct occupation of lands, the establishment of governments favorable to foreign powers, and the economic exploitation of colonized regions.

The process of imperialism was driven by several factors, including technological development, the search for new markets and natural resources, and the intense competition among European powers. Imperialism was also justified by racist ideologies, which considered colonized peoples as "inferior" and "uncivilized", and by a sort of determinism that saw European expansion as a natural and inevitable process.

Imperialism had deep impacts on the regions that were colonized, including changes in the economy, culture, and social structure. In particular, many of the conflicts and problems that exist today in regions of Africa and Asia can be traced back to the period of imperialism.

The Relevance of Studying Imperialism

Studying imperialism is important because it shaped the world we live in today. Imperialism led to the creation of an interconnected global system, where decisions made in one part of the world can have impacts on other regions. It is also crucial to understanding global inequalities, since many of the economic and political divisions we see today date back to the period of imperialism.

In addition, imperialism is also relevant for understanding the dynamics of international power and the relations between different nations and cultures. For example, it can help us understand why certain countries are more powerful than others, or why certain cultures are seen as more "dominant" than others.

Hands-on Activity: "Imperialism: A Game of Conquest"

Project Objective

Each group of 3-5 students will develop a game board that will represent the world during the 19th and early 20th centuries, the period of Imperialism. The game should portray the expansion of the imperial powers, the capture of resources, the conflicts between nations, and the impacts on the colonized areas. Through research, planning, and gameplay, students will dive deep into the multifaceted aspects of Imperialism.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be tasked with creating a game board that depicts the Age of Imperialism. The board should include representations of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, as well as different European powers. Each group will research about a specific power's imperial expansion and represent it on the game.

Required Materials

• Poster board or cardboard for the game board
• Markers, color pens, crayons
• Miniatures or buttons to represent armies or territories
• Dice
• Research on imperialism

Step-by-Step Process

1. Divide the class into groups of 3-5 students.
2. Each group will choose one European imperial country (e.g., Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium) or the United States.
3. Each group will research their chosen country's imperialism:
   • What territories did it colonize?
   • What were the main resources extracted?
   • How did it justify colonization?
   • How did it affect the native populations?
4. Based on their research, students will create the game rules that reflect their chosen country's expansion and actions.
5. Students will design the game board on the poster board or cardboard, representing the colonized territories and the trade and travel routes.
6. Students will create and write down the rules of the game, which should involve elements such as conquering territories, gaining resources, competition between powers, and challenges representing native resistance or international conflicts.
7. Each group will present their game to the class and everyone will play against each other to learn while having fun!

Project Deliverables

Upon completion of the activity, each group will submit:

1. The created game board.
2. The written game rules.
3. A written report, 4-6 pages long, about the research and creation process of the game. The report should include the following sections:
   • Introduction: The country chosen, a brief description of the activity, and the objective of the project.
   • Development: A discussion about the theory of imperialism, the game's explanation and methodology, and the results obtained.
   • Conclusion: Recap the main points and discuss the lessons learned from the project. What were the impacts of imperialism? How was that reflected in the game?
   • Bibliography: The resources used, books, web pages, videos, etc.
4. A presentation of the game to the class, including an explanation of the rules and a short simulation of the gameplay.

This project will allow students to understand how imperialism affected different regions of the world, while also developing skills such as research, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.