Definition of imperialism

The word "imperialism" has its roots in the 17th century. It comes from the Latin "imperium," meaning "power" or "authority," and the suffix "-ism," indicating a system or doctrine. The term was first used in the 1580s to describe the centralized authority of the Roman Empire. However, its modern connotation as a political and economic system of one country dominating others did not emerge until the late 19th century. This change in meaning was largely driven by the rise of European colonialism and the expansion of empires such as Britain, France, and Germany. Critics of colonialism, such as Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, began using the term "imperialism" to describe the economic and political domination of one nation over others in the 1880s. Since then, the term has been used extensively to describe a range of phenomena, from colonialism to neo-colonialism and contemporary notions of global power and influence.