ABSTRACT
In the Victorian age, as the scope of British economic trading and political interest widened, the term imperialism was increasingly used to categorize, legitimize, justify or otherwise explain Britain's territorial expansion. However, nowadays it is a term to be used with caution. As Winifred Baumgart has observed:
Imperialism is a vague and imprecise catchword. It is well worn like an old coin, but in contrast to a coin it has more than two sides. It is as many faceted as a crystal, but lacks the crystal's transparency and clearly defined lines ... Broadly speaking, imperialism may be defined as the domination or control of one group over another group. There are widely varying relationships involving such domination and dependence. They may be planned or unplanned, conscious, half conscious, direct or indirect, physical or psychological, open or concealed. 1
