25. Empire and After
E
uropean overseas empire began in the fifteenth century with the
Atiantic islands (Canaries, Madeiras) and pieces of North Africa,
and more or less ended in the second half of the twentieth. Five hun
dred years of dominion, a long time. And yet, for all of colonialism's
enormous effects, it was a passing phenomenon in the larger sweep of
world history. Pomp and pride on the one side, humiliations on the
other—all are gone. Not forgotten; the memories remain. Yet the
losses are reparable; the gains are savable; the tasks and opportunities
lie ahead.
Empire, imperialism; colony, colonialism; the terms need definition.*
Imperialism is the system ("principle or spirit") and pursuit of em
pire—the dominion of one country over others. Empires arose as states
arose, one stronger than another. Given this long pedigree and the
link of empire to military conquest and diplomatic enterprise, to sta-- For an excellent discussion of these terms and distinctions over time, space, and ide
ologies, see Klor de Alva, "Postcolonization." He is more discriminating than I, es
pecially in his use of imperialism and colonialism and in his distinction between
postcolonialism and postcoloniality. His approach has its advantages, but I shall trade nu
ance for brevity.