What is imperialism?

What is imperialism?

Imperialism is a policy or ideology of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, the use of military force, or other means. Imperialism can also refer to the system of political, economic, and social domination over other territories and peoples imposed by a more powerful state or empire. It was a widespread practice in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as European powers and the United States expanded their empires, and continues to shape the world in various ways today. The impacts of imperialism have been both positive and negative, depending on one's perspective, but it often resulted in the exploitation of colonized peoples, loss of sovereignty, and cultural assimilation.