Imperialism in Asia: Map of the British, French, Russian, American, and Japanese colonial possessions in Asia at the start of World War I in 1914, as well as the Berlin-to-Baghdad and Siberian railroads. Click here to enlarge.
By 1914, European imperialism had deeply impacted Asia, with many regions under direct or indirect colonial control. Britain held India, Burma, and parts of the Malay Peninsula, while France controlled Indochina, including Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The Dutch ruled the resource-rich East Indies (modern Indonesia), and Russia expanded into Central Asia. These imperial powers exploited natural resources, built infrastructure to serve European interests, and imposed Western political, economic, and cultural systems. While some modernization occurred, local populations often faced economic hardship, loss of sovereignty, and cultural disruption. Tensions caused by imperial rule would later fuel nationalist movements across the continent.
|
