AP European History Flashcards: New Imperialism: Motivations and Methods
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
How did technology, in general, enable European imperialism from 1815 to 1914?
Technological advances in weaponry, transportation, communication, and medicine gave Europeans the means to conquer, administer, and survive in their new overseas empires.
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How did technology, in general, enable European imperialism from 1815 to 1914?
Technological advances in weaponry, transportation, communication, and medicine gave Europeans the means to conquer, administer, and survive in their new overseas empires.
What specific type of weaponry ensured European military superiority over colonized peoples?
The development of advanced weaponry, particularly the machine gun, ensured the military advantage of Europeans over colonized areas.
Which two types of technology facilitated the creation and administration of vast European empires?
Communication technologies like the telegraph and transportation technologies like steamships were critical in facilitating the creation and expansion of European empires.
Define 'The White Man’s Burden' in the context of New Imperialism.
'The White Man’s Burden' was a cultural justification for imperialism, framing it as a duty for Europeans to bring their civilization to the peoples of Asia and Africa.
How did the invention of the telegraph specifically help in the administration of a colony in Africa from London?
The telegraph allowed for near-instantaneous communication between the colonial administration and the European capital, enabling faster decision-making and tighter control over the empire.
What is Social Darwinism as it relates to European imperialism?
Social Darwinism was a cultural ideology that applied the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to societies, justifying European imperial dominance as a natural outcome of a superior civilization.
A small European expeditionary force is able to defeat a much larger indigenous army. Which technological factor best explains this outcome?
The Europeans' possession of advanced weaponry, such as the machine gun, provided a decisive military advantage that could overcome a numerical disadvantage.
What were the three main categories of motivations for European New Imperialism in Asia and Africa?
European nations were driven by economic, political, and cultural motivations in their new imperial ventures.
Define Quinine's role in New Imperialism.
Quinine was a medicine used to prevent and treat malaria, which dramatically reduced European death rates in tropical climates and made the colonization of Africa's interior possible.
List the three main technological categories that enabled European imperialism.
The key technological enablers of European imperialism were advanced weaponry, communication/transportation technologies (steamships, telegraph), and advances in medicine (Quinine).
What medical advance was crucial for enabling Europeans to survive in tropical regions of Africa and Asia?
Advances in medicine, specifically the use of Quinine to combat malaria, enabled greater European survival in Africa and Asia.