ABSTRACT
In the nineteenth century, particularly the last two decades, Western power was territorialized, as control over large tracts of the world, and a significant portion of its population, changed hands. Native polities were overthrown in a competitive rush by the Western states to seize territory. This was seen as a source of prestige, a fulfilment of destiny, an area for Christian missionary activity, and a valuable economic resource, providing both markets and resources, such as, in the case of three British colonies, the tin of Malaya, the timber of Burma, and the cocoa of Ghana. The pace of conquest dramatically increased in the second half of the century and, even more, in its last fifteen years, especially in Africa, SouthEast Asia and Oceania. Whereas for centuries the French had made little headway in Madagascar, where they had first established a position in 1643, the island was rapidly conquered in 1895, although French forces suffered heavy casualties from yellow fever.
