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Colonial empire

Overseas possessions of a nation-state

Colonial empire
Summary

Overseas possessions of a nation-state

Map of modern empires across the world between 1492 and 1945

A colonial empire is a state engaging in colonization, possibly establishing or maintaining colonies, infused with some form of coloniality and colonialism. Such states can expand contiguous as well as overseas. Colonial empires may set up colonies as settler colonies.

Before the expansion of early modern European powers, other empires had conquered and colonized territories, such as the Roman Empire in Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. Modern colonial empires first emerged with a race of exploration between the then most advanced European maritime powers, Portugal and Spain, during the 15th century. The initial impulse behind these dispersed maritime empires and those that followed was trade, driven by the new ideas and the capitalism that grew out of the European Renaissance. Agreements were also made to divide the world up between them in 1479, 1493, and 1494. European imperialism was born out of competition between European Christians and Ottoman Muslims, the latter of which rose up quickly in the 14th century and forced the Spaniards and Portuguese to seek new trade routes to India, and to a lesser extent, China.

Although colonies existed in classical antiquity, especially amongst the Phoenicians and the ancient Greeks who settled many islands and coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, these colonies were politically independent from the city-states they originated from, and thus did not constitute a colonial empire. This paradigm shifted by the time of the Ptolemaic, Seleucid, and Roman Empires.

The European countries of the modern era that are most remembered as colonial empires are the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium.

History

European colonial empires

Portugal began establishing the first global trade network and one of the first colonial empires under the leadership of Henry the Navigator. The empire spread throughout a vast number of territories distributed across the globe (especially at one time in the 16th century) that are now parts of 60 different sovereign states. Portugal would eventually control Brazil, territories such as what is now Uruguay and some fishing ports in north, in the Americas; Angola, Mozambique, Portuguese Guinea, and São Tomé and Príncipe (among other territories and bases) in the North and the Subsaharan Africa; cities, forts or territories in all the Asian subcontinents, as Muscat, Ormus and Bahrain (amongst other bases) in the Persian Gulf; Goa, Bombay and Daman and Diu (amongst other coastal cities) in India; Portuguese Ceylon; Malacca, bases in Southeast Asia and Oceania, as Makassar, Solor, Banda, Ambon and others in the Moluccas, Portuguese Timor; and the granted entrepôt-base of Macau and the entrepôt-enclave of Dejima (Nagasaki) in East Asia, amongst other smaller or short-lived possessions.

The territorial evolution of modern colonial empires and some of their successor states (such as USSR, Turkey)}}

During its Siglo de Oro, the Spanish Empire had possession of Mexico, South America, the Philippines, all of southern Italy, a stretch of territories from the Duchy of Milan to the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, parts of Burgundy, and many colonial settlements in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Possessions in Europe, Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, the Americas, the Pacific Ocean, and East Asia qualified the Spanish Empire as attaining a global presence. From 1580 to 1640 the Portuguese Empire and the Spanish Empire were conjoined in a personal union of its Habsburg monarchs during the period of the Iberian Union, but beneath the highest level of government, their separate administrations were maintained.

Colonial powers in 1945

Subsequent colonial empires included the English, Dutch and French empires. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century, by virtue of its technological and maritime supremacy, the British Empire steadily expanded to become by far the largest empire in history; at its height ruling over a quarter of the Earth's land area and 24% of the population. Britain's role as a global hegemon during this time ushered in a century of "British Peace", lasting from the end of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars to the start of World War I. During the New Imperialism, Belgium, Italy and Germany also built their colonial empires in Africa, while Japan started to encroach into former Chinese domains after they have settled their own reformation.

Timeline

The chart below shows the span of some European colonial empires.

  • Black lines mark the year of the empires largest territorial extent of land area.
  • Red represents that the empire is at that time a monarchy.
  • Blue represents that the empire is at that time a republic. ImageSize = width:750 height:450 PlotArea = width:650 height:350 left:50 bottom:50

DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1400 till:2000 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:50 start:1400

  1. there is no automatic collision detection,
  2. so shift texts up or down manually to avoid overlap

Colors= id:red value:red

Define $dx = 25 # shift text to right side of bar Define $dy = -5 # adjust height

PlotData= bar:Belgian color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1908 till:1962 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1928 mark: (line,black)

bar:British color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1707 till:1997 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1920 mark: (line,black)

bar:Danish color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1536 till:1953 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1810 mark: (line,black)

bar:Dutch color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1602 till:1806 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue from:1806 till:1975 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1806 mark: (line,red) at:1930 mark: (line,black)

bar:English color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1585 till:1649 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1649 till:1660 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue from:1660 till:1707 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1649 mark: (line,blue) at:1660 mark: (line,red) at:1707 mark: (line,black)

bar:French color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1534 till:1792 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1792 till:1814 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue from:1814 till:1870 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1870 till:1980 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue at:1792 mark: (line,blue) at:1814 mark: (line,red) at:1870 mark: (line,blue) at:1920 mark: (line,black)

bar:German color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1884 till:1918 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1912 mark: (line,black)

bar:Italian color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1885 till:1946 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1946 till:1960 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue at:1946 mark: (line,blue) at:1939 mark: (line,black)

bar:Portuguese color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1415 till:1999 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1910 till:1999 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue at:1910 mark: (line,blue) at:1815 mark: (line,black)

bar:Russian color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1721 till:1917 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1895 mark: (line,black)

bar:Spanish color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1492 till:1931 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1931 till:1947 shift:($dx,-2) color:blue from:1947 till:1975 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1873 mark: (line,blue) at:1874 mark: (line,blue) at:1931 mark: (line,blue) at:1810 mark: (line,black) at:1947 mark: (line,blue)

bar:Swedish color:red width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:7 from:1638 till:1663 shift:($dx,-2) color:red from:1784 till:1878 shift:($dx,-2) color:red at:1658 mark: (line,black)

List of colonial empires

European:

  • Belgium Belgian Empire (1908–1962)
    • Possessions in Africa
      • Belgian Congo (1908–1960)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Ruanda-Urundi.svg|21x21px]] Ruanda-Urundi (1922–1962)
    • Possessions in Asia
      • [[File:Seal of the Belgian concession of Tianjin.svg|21x21px]] Belgian concession of Tianjin (1902–1931)
  • British Empire British Empire (1707–1997/present)
    • Evolution of the British Empire; Angevin Empire; Kingdom of England English colonial empire (1585–1707)
    • Possessions in Europe
      • Flag of Cyprus (1922–1960).svg British Cyprus
      • Malta British Malta
      • Flag of Ireland.svg British Ireland
      • Flag of the United States of the Ionian Islands.svg United States of the Ionian Islands
      • Gibraltar British Gibraltar
      • British Minorca
      • [[File:Flag of British Heligoland.svg|29x29px]] British Heligoland
    • Possessions in Africa
      • [[File:Flag of British Somaliland (1952–1960).svg|20px]] British Somaliland (1884–1960)
      • Egypt British Egypt (1914–1936)
      • Emblem of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.svg Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1899–1956)
      • [[File:Flag of Kenya (1895–1921).svg|20px]] East Africa Protectorate (1895–1920)
      • [[File:Flag of Kenya (1921–1963).svg|20px]] Kenya Colony (1920–1963)
      • [[File:Flag of the Uganda Protectorate.svg|20px]] Uganda Protectorate (1894–1962)
      • [[File:Flag of Tanganyika (1923–1961).svg|20px]] Tanganyika (territory) (1922–1961)
      • [[File:Flag of Nyasaland (1925–1964).svg|20px]] Protectorate of Nyasaland (1893–1964)
      • [[File:Flag of Northern Rhodesia (1939–1964).svg|20px]] Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia (1924–1964)
      • [[File:Flag of Southern Rhodesia (1924–1964).svg|20px]] Colony of Southern Rhodesia (1923–1965), (1979–1980)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Bechuanaland Protectorate.svg|20px]] Bechuanaland Protectorate (1885–1966)
      • [[File:Flag of Nigeria (1914–1952).svg|20px]] British Nigeria (1914–1954)
      • [[File:Flag of the Gold Coast (1877–1957).svg|20px]] British Gold Coast (1867–1957)
      • [[File:Flag of Sierra Leone (1916–1961).svg|20px]] British Sierra Leone (1808–1961)
      • [[File:Flag of The Gambia (1889–1965).svg|20px]] British Gambia (1821–1965)
    • Possessions in the Americas
      • Flag of the United States (1776–1777).svg Thirteen Colonies
      • Colonial-Red-Ensign.svg British West Indies
        • Flag of the Bahamas (1964–1973).svg Bahamas
        • Flag of Barbados (1870–1966).svg Barbados
        • Bermuda
        • Leeward Islands (1671–1816),(1833–1958)
        • Windward Islands (1833–1960)
        • Cayman Islands
        • Flag of Jamaica (1957–1962).svg Colony of Jamaica (1655–1962)
        • Flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1958–1962).svg Trinidad and Tobago
        • Turks and Caicos Islands
      • British Honduras (1862–1981)
      • British Guiana (1814–1966)
      • Flag of Mosquitia.svg Kingdom of Mosquitia (1638–1860)
    • Possessions in South Asia
Map of British processions in South Asia
Map of British processions in South Asia
- East India Company (1757–1858)
- British Raj (1858–1947)
- British Ceylon (1815–1948)
- Flag of Sikkim (1914-1962).svg Sikkim (protectorate) (1861–1948)
  • Possessions in East Asia
    • British Hong Kong (1841–1997)
  • Possessions in the Middle East
    • Trucial States (1820–1971)
    • Bahrain British Bahrain (1861–1971)
    • flag of Qatar (1949–1971).svg British Qatar (1916–1971)
    • Kingdom of Iraq British Iraq (1920–1932) (1932–1958)
    • Emirate of Transjordan (1921–1946)
    • Ensign of the Palestine Mandate (1927–1948).svg Mandatory Palestine (1920–1948)
    • Kuwait Sheikhdom of Kuwait (1899–1961)
    • Flag of Aden (1937–1963).svg Aden Protectorate (1872–1963)
    • Flag of Muscat.svg Muscat and Oman (1892–1970)
  • Possessions in Southeast Asia
    • British Bencoolen
    • British Malaya
    • British Borneo
  • Dominions of the United Kingdom (now Realms)
    • Canada (1867-present)
    • Dominion of Newfoundland (incorporated into the Dominion of Canada in 1949)
    • Australia States and territories of Australia (1901–present)
      • Australia itself a colony that gradually increased its independence in 1901, 1942, and 1986, was tasked with the government of multiple other British colonies and territories and the mandates of New Guinea and Nauru
    • New Zealand Realm of New Zealand (1907–present)
      • New Zealand itself a colony that gradually increased its independence in 1907, 1947 and 1986, was tasked with the government of multiple other British colonies and territories and the mandate of Samoa. It was also nominal co-trustee of the mandate of Nauru. The remaining non-self-governing New Zealand territory is Tokelau.
    • Union of South Africa Mandates under South African administration (1915–1990)
      • The South-West Africa mandate was governed by the Union of South Africa, that itself a colony that gradually increased its independence in 1910, 1931 and 1961.
  • Denmark Danish Empire (1620–1979)
    • Denmark Danish India (1620–1869)
    • Denmark Danish Gold Coast (1658–1850)
    • Danish colonization of the Americas:
      • Danish blue ensign.svg Danish West Indies (1754–1917)
      • [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Greenland_(Old_version).svg|border|20px]] Greenland (1814–1979)
  • Netherlands Dutch Empire (1602–1975)
    • Dutch colonization of the Americas by Dutch West India Company:
      • New Netherland
      • Flag of Dutch Guyana.svg Dutch Guyana/Surinam
      • Flag of New Holland.svg Dutch Brazil (1630–1654)
      • Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986–2010).svg Dutch Caribbean
      • Dutch West India Company Dutch Gold Coast (1612–1872)
    • Dutch East India Company
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch India
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch East Indies
        • Netherlands New Guinea
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1806)
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch Formosa (1624–1662)
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch Ceylon (1640–1796)
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch Malacca (1641–1795) (1818–1825)
      • Dutch East India Company Dejima (1641–1854)
      • Dutch East India Company Dutch Mauritius (1638–1710)
  • France French Empire (1534–1980)
    • French colonization of the Americas:
      • France Antarctique (1555–1567)
      • New France (1534–1763) and Quebec
      • Old Louisiana Flag.svg French Louisiana
      • Flag of France.svg French West Indies (1635–today)
        • Îles des Saintes (1648–present)
        • Marie-Galante (1635–present)
        • la Désirade (1635–present)
        • Guadeloupe (1635–present)
        • Martinique (1635–present)
      • French Guiana
      • Flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.svg Saint Pierre and Miquelon
    • Asia:
      • French India (1664–1962)
      • Ensign of French Indochina.svg French Indochina and French Indochinese Union (1887–1954)
        • Laos (protectorate) (1893–1953)
        • Cambodia (protectorate) (1863–1953)
        • Vietnam
          • Cochinchina (Southern Vietnam) (1858–1949)
          • Flag of Colonial Annam.svg Annam (protectorate) (Central Vietnam) (1883–1949)
          • Tonkin (protectorate) (Northern Vietnam) (1884–1949)
      • China
        • The foreign concessions : Seal of Shanghai French Concession.svg French Concession of Shanghai (1849–1946), Tianjin (1860–1946) and Hankou (1898–1946)
        • The spheres of French influence officially recognized by China on the provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan, and Guangdong
        • Shamian Island (1859–1949) (a fifth of the island)
        • Flag of Colonial Annam.svg French Guangzhouwan (1898–1945)
    • Possessions in the Middle East
      • Mandate for Syria and Lebanon (1920–1946)
    • French Africa:
      • French North Africa (1830–1934)
      • Naval ensign of French Algeria (1848–1910).svg French Algeria
      • French Morocco (1912–1956)
      • Flag of Tunisia with French canton.svg French Tunisia (1886–1956)
      • Seal of French Somaliland.svg French Somaliland (1883–1975)
      • French West Africa (1895–1958)
      • Seal of the Government-General of Madagascar.svg French Madagascar (1882–1958)
      • Flag of the Comoros (1963–1975).svg French Comoros (1866–1968)
      • French Equatorial Africa (1910–1958)
      • Isle de France (1715–1810)
      • Seychelles (1756–1810)
      • The Scattered Islands
      • Reunion Reunion (1710–present)
      • Flag of Mayotte (local).svgMayotte (1841–present)
    • Oceania:
      • New Hebrides (1906–1980)
      • French Polynesia
      • New Caledonia
      • Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg Wallis and Futuna
      • Clipperton Island
  • German Empire German Empire (1884–1920)
    • Flag of Deutsch-Kamerun.svg Kamerun (1884–1918)
    • Flag of Deutsch-Togo.svg Togoland (1884–1916)
    • Flag of Deutsch-Südwest.svg German South West Africa (1884–1919)
    • Flag of Deutsch-Neuguinea.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919)
    • Flag of Deutsch-Ostafrika.svg German East Africa (1885–1919)
    • Flag of Deutsch-Samoa.svg German Samoa (1900–1920)
    • German Concession in Tientsin
    • German concession of Hankou
    • German Tsingtao
      • German Kiautschou Bay Leased Territory
  • Italy Italian Empire (1882–1960)
    • [[File:Eritrea COA.svg|21x21px]] Eritrea (1882–1947)
    • [[File:Italian Somaliland COA.svg|21x21px]] Somaliland (1889–1947, 1950–1960 as Italian Trust Territory of Somaliland)
    • Ethiopia Ethiopia (1936–1941)
      • [[File:Scudo Africa Orientale Italiana.svg|21x21px]] Italian East Africa (formed by merging Eritrea, Somaliland and Ethiopia: 1936–1947)
    • [[File:Cyrenaica.svg|21x21px]] Cyrenaica (1912–1947)
    • [[File:Tripolitana COA.svg|21x21px]] Tripolitania (1912–1947)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Italian Libya (1940–1943).svg|21x21px]] Libya (Formed by merging Cyrenaica and Tripolitania in 1934. It dissolved in 1947. It also included the Southern Military Territory of Fezzan)
    • [[File:Arms of the Italian Islands of the Aegean.svg|21x21px]] Italian Islands of the Aegean (1912–1947)
    • Flag of Albania (1939–1943).svg Italian Albania (1939–1943)
    • Italian France (1940–1943)
    • Flag of Montenegro (1905–1918, 1941–1944).svg Italian Montenegro (1941–1943)
    • Italian concession of Tientsin (1901–1947)
  • Portugal Portuguese Empire (1415–1999)
    • Evolution of the Portuguese Empire
    • Flag of Portugal (1640).svg Portuguese colonization of the Americas
      • Flag of Kingdom of Brazil.svg Colonial Brazil (1500–1815)
    • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese India (1951-1974).svg|26x26px]] Portuguese India (1505–1961)
    • [[File:Colonial Seal of Ceylon.svg|24x24px]] Portuguese Ceylon (1598–1658)
    • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (1951-1975).svg|26x26px]] Portuguese Timor (1702–1975)
    • Flag of the Government of Portuguese Macau (1951-1976).svg Portuguese Macau (1557–1999)
    • Portuguese Malacca (1511–1641)
    • Portuguese Nagasaki (1580–1587)
    • Portuguese Oman (1507–1656)
    • Tamão (1514–1521)
    • Portuguese Africa
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa (1951-1975).svg|26x26px]] Portuguese East Africa (1498–1975)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese West Africa (1951-1975).svg|26x26px]]Portuguese West Africa (1575–1975)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese Guinea (1951-1974).svg|26x26px]]Portuguese Guinea (1474–1974) (1974–1975)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese Cape Verde (1951-1975).svg|26x26px]] Portuguese Cape Verde (1462–1975)
      • [[File:Coat of arms of Portuguese Sao Tome and Principe (1951-1975).svg|26x26px]] Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe (1470–1975)
      • Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá (1721–1961)
      • Portuguese Gold Coast (1482–1642)
  • Russian Empire Russian Empire (1721–1917)
    • Siberia
    • Caucasus
    • Central Asia
    • Russian colonization of North America:
      • Flag of the Russian-American Company.svg Russian America (1733–1867)
    • Sagallo (1889)
    • Russian Port Arthur
    • Russian concession in Tientsin
  • Spain Spanish Empire (1492–1976)
    • Spanish colonization of the Americas
      • Spain Viceroyalty of New Spain
      • Spain Viceroyalty of Peru
      • Spain Viceroyalty of New Granada
      • Spain Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
    • Spain Spanish East Indies
      • Spain Captaincy General of the Philippines (1565–1898)
      • Spain Spanish Malukus (1580–1663)
      • Spain Spanish protectorate in Cambodia (1597–1600)
      • Spain El Piñal (1598–1600)
      • Spain Spanish Formosa (1626–1642)
    • Spain Spanish Africa
      • [[File:Coat of Arms of the Portuguese and Spanish Guinea.svg|21x21px]] Spanish Guinea (1778–1968)
      • [[File:Coat of Arms of the Spanish Sahara.svg|21x21px]] Spanish Sahara (1884–1976)
      • Morocco Spanish protectorate in Morocco (1912–1956)
      • [[File:Coat of Arms of the Spanish Province of Sidi Ifni.svg|28x28px]] Ifni (1476–1524/1859–1969).
      • Plazas de soberanía (Enclaves in North Africa)
        • Spain Santa Cruz de la Mar Pequeña (1478–1524)
        • Spain Spanish Mazalquivir (1505–1708, 1732–1792)
        • Spain Spanish Oran (1509–1708, 1732–1792)
        • Spain Spanish Tripoli (1510–1530)
        • Spain Spanish Béjaïa (1510–1555)
        • Spain Peñón de Algiers (1510–1529)
        • Spain Spanish Tunisia (1535–1569, 1573–1574)
        • Spain Spanish Larache (1610–1689)
        • Spain Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera (1508–present)
        • Spain Melilla (1497–present)
        • Spain Ceuta (1578/1668–present)
    • Possessions of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Spain Habsburg Spain and Spain Spanish House of Bourbon in Europe:
      • Spain Spanish Burgundian lands
        • Spain Spanish Netherlands (1555–1713)
          • Spain Spanish Holland (1555–1581)
          • Spain Spanish Belgium (1555–1713)
          • Spain Spanish Luxembourg (1555–1713)
        • [[File:Flag of Franche-Comté.svg|20x20px]] Franche-Comté (1555–1678)
        • [[File:Blason Charolais.svg|18x18px]] Charolais (1555–1678)
        • Spain Upper Alsace (1617–1648)
        • Spain Spanish Palatinate (1620–1652)
      • Spain Spain Spanish Italy
        • [[File:Cross of Alcoraz Arms.svg|19x19px]] Kingdom of Sardinia (1479–1713), (1717–1720)
        • [[File:Great Royal Coat of Arms of the Two Sicilies.svg|26x26px]] Kingdom of Sicily (1479–1713), 1734–1815)
        • [[File:Great Royal Coat of Arms of the Two Sicilies.svg|25x25px]] Kingdom of Naples (1503–1713), 1734–1806)
        • Principality of Monaco (1524–1641)
        • Spain State of the Presidi (1557–1708)
        • Spain [[File:Coat of arms of the House of Bourbon-Parma.svg|24x24px]] Duchy of Milan (1559–1706)
        • Spain Marquisate of Finale (1602–1713)
        • Spain Spanish Grischun (1620–1639)
        • Spain Principality of Piombino (1628–1634)
        • [[File:Coat of arms of the House of Bourbon-Parma.svg|24x24px]] Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (1734–1738, 1748–1796, 1847–1854)
        • [[File:Coat of arms of the House of Bourbon-Parma.svg|24x24px]] Kingdom of Etruria (1801–1807)
        • [[File:Coat of arms of the House of Bourbon-Parma.svg|23x23px]] Duchy of Lucca (1815–1847)
        • [[File:Great Royal Coat of Arms of the Two Sicilies.svg|26x26px]] Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1815–1860)
  • Sweden Swedish Empire (1638–1663, 1733, 1784–1878)
    • Swedish colonies in the Americas
      • Flag of Sweden (1562–1650).svg New Sweden (1638–1655)
      • Swedish civil ensign (1844–1905).svg Swedish colony of Saint Barthélemy (1784–1878)
      • Sweden Guadeloupe (1813–1814)
    • Flag of Sweden (1562–1650).svg Swedish Gold Coast (1650–1658, 1660–1663)
    • Flag of Sweden (1562–1650).svg Swedish Africa Company
    • Sweden Swedish East India Company
    • Sweden Parangipettai (1733)
    • Sweden Swedish Factory, Canton Factories (1757–1860)

Asian:

  • Empire of Japan Empire of Japan (1868–1945)

    • Hokkaido Ezo as Hokkaido (1869–present)
    • Okinawa Ryukyu as Okinawa Prefecture (1879–1945; 1972–present)
    • [[File:Seal of the Government-General of Taiwan.svg|21x21px]] Taiwan (1895–1945)
    • [[File:Emblem of Karafuto.svg|21x21px]] Karafuto Prefecture (1905–1949)
    • Empire of Japan Korea (1910–1945)
    • [[File:Emblem of the South Pacific Mandate.svg|21x21px]] South Seas Mandate (1919–1947)
    • Manchukuo (1932–1945)
    • Empire of Japan Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (1932–1945)

  • Turkey Ottoman Empire (1354–1908) Main article: Administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire, Vassal and tributary states of the Ottoman Empire

    • Europe:
      • Cretan State (1898–1913)
      • Crimean Khanate (1475–1774)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Albania (1479–1912)
      • Western Herzegovina 1760 flag.svg Ottoman Bosnia and Herzegovina (1463–1908)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Bulgaria (1396–1878)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Crete (1667–1898)
      • Coat of arms of the Eyalet of Cyprus.svg Ottoman Cyprus (1571–1878)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Greece (1453–1830)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Hungary (1541–1699)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Serbia (1459–1804)
      • Ottoman Empire Rumelia Eyalet (1365–1867)
      • Ottoman Empire Sanjak of Rhodes (1522–1912)
      • Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (1859–1862)
    • Asia:
      • Flag of the Aceh Sultanate.png Protectorate of Aceh (1496–1903)
      • Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844–1922).svg Ottoman Arabia (1517–1919)
      • Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844–1922).svg Ottoman Iraq (1538–1918)
      • Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844–1922).svg Ottoman Syria (1517–1918)
      • Flag of the Emirate of Riyadh (1902-1913).svg Emirate of Nejd (1818–1914)
    • Africa:
      • Khedivate of Egypt (1867–1914)
      • Seal of Turkish Sudan.svg Turco-Egyptian Sudan (1820–1885)
      • Flag of Egypt (1844-1867).svg Ottoman Egypt (1517–1914)
      • Ottoman Empire Ottoman Absinia (1554–1872)
      • Ottoman Algeria (1516–1830)
      • Ottoman Tripolitania (1551–1912)
      • Flag of Ottoman Tunisia (1685).svg Ottoman Tunisia (1574–1881)

Other countries with informal colonial possessions:

  • United States United States (1857–present)

    • United States overseas territories:
      • United States Minor Outlying Islands (1857–present)
      • American Samoa (1900–present)
      • Guam (1899–present)
        • Guam Naval Government of Guam (1899–1950)
      • Northern Mariana Islands (1986–present)
      • Puerto Rico (1899–present)
        • United States Military Government of Porto Rico (1899–1900)
        • United States Insular Government of Porto Rico (1900–1952)
      • United States Virgin Islands (1917–present)
      • Philippines (1899–1946)
        • United States Military Government of the Philippine Islands (1899–1902)
        • Philippines Insular Government of the Philippine Islands (1902–1935)
        • Philippines Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935–1946)
      • [[File:Flag of Hawaii.svg|23x23px]] Republic of Hawaii (1898–1900)
      • Swan Islands (1863–1972)
    • U.S.-administered areas:
      • Canton and Enderbury Islands (1939–1979)
      • Corn Islands (1914–1971)
      • Nanpō Islands and Marcus Island (1952–1968)
      • Panama Canal Zone Panama Canal (Zone) (1903–1999)
      • United States Ryukyu Islands and Daitō Islands (1952–1972)
      • Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1947–1994)

  • Chile Chile (1888–1966)

    • Easter Island

  • Austrian Empire Habsburg monarchy Colonies and the Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire (1719–1750, 1778–1783, 1901–1917)

    • Austrian colonial policy
      • Ostend company flag.png Ostend Company
        • Bankipur (Bengal)
        • Covelong
      • Austrian East India Company
        • Austrian colonisation of Nicobar Islands (1778–1785)
        • Austrian Delagoa Bay (1773–1781)
        • Móric Benyovszky's Madagascar (1774–1779)
        • Austrian North Borneo
    • Franz Josef Land
    • Austro-Hungarian concession of Tianjin (1901–1917)
    • Hungarian colonial attempts

  • Holy Roman Empire German colonial initiatives (1683–1721)

    • Colonies of Flag of Brandenburg-Prussia.png Brandenburg-Prussia (1683–1721)
    • Colonies of [[File:Wappen Hanau 2.svg|23x23px]] County of Hanau
    • Neu-Askania (1828–1856)
    • German colonization of the Americas
      • Klein-Venedig (1528–1546)

  • PolandPolish attempts and Curonian colonisation

    • Colonization attempts by Poland
    • Curonian colonisation

  • Holy Roman Empire Pre-unification Italian colonialism

    • Flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (1562-1737).svg Grand Duchy of Tuscany: Thornton expedition (1608–1609)
    • Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4.svg Kingdom of Sicily: Kingdom of Africa (1135–1160)
    • Flag of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.svg Knights Hospitaller (Malta, a vassal of the [[File:Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4.svg|19x19px]] Kingdom of Sicily): Hospitaller colonization of the Americas
    • Republic of Genoa: Genoese colonies
    • Republic of Venice: Stato da Màr

  • Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Scotland (1621–1707)

    • Scottish colonization of the Americas

  • Norway Kingdom of Norway

    • List of possessions of Norway (1920–present)
    • Erik the Red's Land
    • Norway Antarctic and sub-Antarctic possessions (1927–1957)The dependencies of Norway are uninhabited, thus as end date is taken the latest date of full Norwegian sovereignty extension to such territory, instead of the date of decolonization or integration in the administrative structures of the mainland. Bouvet Island claimed in 1927, under Norway sovereignty since 1930. Peter I Island claimed in 1929, under Norway sovereignty since 1933. Queen Maud Land claimed in 1938, under Norway sovereignty since 1957. Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land fall under the scope of the Antarctic Treaty System since 1961.

  • Om 1958.gif Omani Empire (1652–1892)

    • Ya'ariba Dynasty's ensign.jpg Yaruba dynasty (1624–1742)
    • Flag of Muscat.svg Sultanate of Muscat (1652–1820)
    • Sultanate of Zanzibar (taken by Oman in 1698, became capital of the Omani Sultanate or Empire from 1632 or 1640; until 1890)
    • Mombasa (1698–1728, 1729–1744, 1837–1890)
    • Gwadar (1783–1958)

Chinese Empire (from Qin dynasty to China Qing dynasty), China (221 BC – 1911)

  • Imperial Chinese Tributary System
  • Guangxi
  • Hainan (since the Han dynasty)
    • Nansha Islands
    • Xisha Islands
  • Manchuria (during the Tang, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties)
    • Manchuria (Northeast China)
    • Outer Manchuria
      • Kuye Island
  • Korea
    • Canghai Commandery(A commandery that self subjugated to Han dynasty from Dongye)
    • Four Commanderies of Han (Established after the fall of Gojoseon)
    • Daifang Commandery (Offshoot of the former four commanderies of Han that existed in the 3rd to 4th century)
    • Colonization attempts of the Tang dynasty after Unification of the three kingdoms of Korea (Gyerim Territory Area Command, Protectorate General to Pacify the East and Ungjin Commandery)
    • Dongnyeong Prefectures, Ssangseong Prefectures and Tamna prefectures (Yuan dynasty)
    • Chinese concession of Incheon (during the Qing dynasty)
  • Inner Mongolia
  • Outer Mongolia (during for example the Tang and Qing dynasties)
    • Tannu Uriankhai
  • Taiwan (during the Qing dynasty)
  • Tibet (during the Yuan and Qing dynasties)
  • Yunnan
  • Vietnam (from the Han to Tang dynasties, and during the early Ming dynasty)
  • Xinjiang
  • Central Asia (during the Tang and Qing dynasties)
    • Protectorate General to Pacify the West

  • Ethiopian Empire Ethiopian colonies as the Aksum Empire and Abyssinian empire

    • Viceroyalty of Yemen (520–578)
    • Ethiopian South-Eastern colonization (1878–present)
      • Ethiopian Somali
      • Oromia
      • Gambela
      • Southern Nations
    • Flag of Eritrea (1952-1961).svg Ethiopian-Eritrean/Eritrea Province (1952–1993)

  • Iran Persian Empires

    • Oman (5th century BC–628; 1743–1747)
    • Bahrain (5th century BC–629; 1077–1253, 1330–1507)
    • Sasanian Yemen (570–628)
    • Bijapur Sultan (1490–1686)
    • Persianization of regions within Greater Iran

  • Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate and Abbasid banner.svg Abbasid Caliphate

    • Umayyad Al-Andalus (Arab Hispania)
      • Umayyad Gaul (Arab Southern France)
    • Arab Maghreb
    • Aghlabids colonies from Ifriqiya
      • Southern Italy
        • Emirate of Sicily
        • Emirate of Bari
        • Malta
    • Al-Jazira (Arab Mesopotamia)
      • Al-Awasim
    • Arab Iran
      • Arabistan
      • Khamseh
    • Arab Central Asian
      • Arab Khorasan
    • Arminiya (Arab Caucasus)

  • Flag of Chola Kingdom.png** Chola Empire**

    • Srivijaya
    • Sri Lanka

  • **** (1799–1849)

    • (1819–1846)
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (1834–1849)

    • References

    1. "Colonial Empire: Definition {{!}} StudySmarter".
    2. Hale, Sebastian. "Ferdinand Magellan The Global Navigator". Shubham.
    3. Encarta-encyclopedie Winkler Prins (1993–2002) s.v. "kolonie [geschiedenis]. §1.2 De moderne koloniale expansie". Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum.
    4. Encarta, s.v. "kolonie [geschiedenis]. §1.1 Oudheid.
    5. "Years a country was an European overseas colony".
    6. "Western colonialism {{!}} Definition, History, Examples, & Effects {{!}} Britannica".
    7. (November 12, 2015). "A Concise History of Spain".
    8. Powell, Philip Wayne ([1991?]). Árbol de odio: la leyenda negra y sus consecuencias en las relaciones entre Estados Unidos y el mundo hispánico. Ediciones Iris de Paz. {{ISBN. 9788440488855. OCLC 55157841
    9. part of the [[Viceroyalty of New Spain]] before 1821.
    10. Part of the [[Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata]] before 1810.
    11. During the reign of [[Philip V of Spain. Philip V]] of [[House of Bourbon. Borbon]], an intense diplomatic and military activity was developed with which the recovery of a significant Spanish presence in Italy was achieved. He placed several of his sons as independent sovereigns in different territories, such as the [[Duchy of Parma]] and especially the [[Kingdom of Naples]], where the Spanish [[House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies]] and [[House of Bourbon-Parma]] ruled until 1860.
    12. Herfried Münkler: ''Der Dreißigjährige Krieh''. Rowohlt, Berlin 2017
    13. Gregory Smits (1999). ''Visions of Ryukyu: Early-Modern Thought and Politics''. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 143–149·
    14. Suciyan, Talin. (2023-05-01). "Denial of Genocides in the Twenty-First Century". Nebraska.
    15. (3 November 2014). "Ahol majdnem magyar gyarmatok lettek".
    16. (28 June 2019). "The Hungarian who wanted to colonise Somalia probably with the help of Budapest".
    17. Part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] [[realm]] before 1804.
    18. part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] before 1736
    Wikipedia Source

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