19th century

=== Colonialism ===
[[File:Arrival of Marshal Randon in Algier-Ernest-Francis Vacherot mg 5120.jpg|thumb|Arrival of Marshal [[Jacques Louis Randon|Randon]] in [[Algiers]], [[French Algeria]] in 1857]]
{{main|Western imperialism in Asia|Scramble for Africa}}
[[File:Rao Baji signing the Treaty of Vasai.jpg|thumb|The [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]] and the [[East India Company]] sign the [[Treaty of Bassein (1802)|Treaty of Bassein]] in 1802.]]
* [[1803]]: United States more than doubles in size when it buys out France's territorial claims in North America via the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. This begins the U.S.'s westward expansion to the Pacific, referred to as its [[Manifest Destiny]], which involves [[United States territorial acquisitions|annexing and conquering land]] from Mexico, Britain, and Native Americans.
* [[1817]]  – [[1819]]: British Empire annexed the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]] after the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]].
* [[1823]] – [[1887]]: British Empire annexed Burma (now also called [[Myanmar]]) after three [[Anglo-Burmese Wars]].
* [[1848]] – [[1849]]: [[Sikh Empire]] is defeated in the [[Second Anglo-Sikh War]]. Therefore, the entire [[Indian subcontinent]] is under British control. 
* [[1862]]: France gained its first foothold in [[Southeast Asia]] and in [[1863]] annexed [[Cambodia]].
* [[1867]]: United States [[Alaska Purchase|purchased Alaska]] from [[Russia]].

==== Africa ====
[[File:Scramble-for-Africa-1880-1913-v2.png|thumb|300px|Comparison of Africa in the years 1880 and 1913]]
In Africa, European exploration and technology led to the colonization of almost the entire continent by 1898. New medicines such as [[quinine]] and more advanced [[firearms]] allowed European nations to conquer native populations.<ref name="KerrAfrica">{{cite book|last1=Kerr|first1=Gordon|title=A Short History of Africa: From the Origins of the Human Race to the Arab Spring|date=2012|publisher=Pocket Essentials|location=Harpenden, Herts [UK]|isbn=9781842434420|pages=85–101}}</ref>

Motivations for the [[Scramble for Africa]] included national pride, desire for raw materials, and Christian missionary activity. Britain seized control of Egypt to ensure control of the [[Suez Canal]], but [[Ethiopian Empire|Ethiopia]] defeated Italy in the [[First Italo–Ethiopian War]] at the [[Battle of Adwa]]. France, Belgium, Portugal, and Germany also had substantial colonies. The [[Berlin Conference]] of 1884–1885 attempted to reach agreement on colonial borders in Africa, but disputes continued, both amongst European powers and in resistance by the native populations.<ref name="KerrAfrica" />

In 1867, [[diamond]]s were discovered in the [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]] region of South Africa. In 1886, gold was discovered in [[South African Republic|Transvaal]]. This led to colonization in Southern Africa by the British and business interests, led by [[Cecil Rhodes]].<ref name="KerrAfrica" />