Colony - Sarcasm Wiki

Contents

1. Overview
2. Etymology
3. Cultural Impact

A colony, in the realm of political discourse, is a territory ensnared by a foreign power, its populace and land governed from afar, distinct from the ruling entity—the colonizer—and its metropole, often termed the “mother country.” This detached governance was a hallmark of colonial empires, with metropoles serving as the central nexus, rendering colonies neither seamlessly integrated territories nor mere client states. The era of New Imperialism, in particular, propelled this model of separate rule, leaving an indelible mark on global dynamics. These colonies were typically established for the primary purpose of exploitation, and sometimes for the settlement of colonists.

The very word “colony” traces its lineage back to the ancient Roman colonia, a designation for Roman settlements. The term itself is derived from colonus, meaning farmer, cultivator, planter, or settler, carrying with it an intrinsic association with agriculture and landed estates.

Moreover, the concept echoes the ancient Greek apoikia (ἀποικία), a term that literally translates to “home away from home.” These were overseas settlements established by ancient Greek city-states, with the founding city revered as the metropolis, or “mother-city.” Since the dawn of the early modern period, historians, administrators, and political scientists have predominantly employed the term “colony” to describe the myriad overseas territories claimed by European states between the 15th and 20th centuries CE. The phenomena of colonialism and its eventual unwinding through decolonization are intrinsically linked to this historical usage.

While colonies often originated as mere trading outposts or were established through territorial claims, it’s crucial to note that not all such areas are necessarily products of outright colonization, nor do they always evolve into formally organized colonial territories. Furthermore, territories need not have been militarily conquered and occupied to fall under colonial rule or to be considered de facto colonies. The insidious mechanisms of neocolonial exploitation, rooted in dependency theory, or the imperialistic deployment of power to subtly (or not so subtly) coerce policy, can also lead to a territory being classified as a colony. This broader interpretation encompasses forms of indirect rule or the establishment of puppet states, which stand in contrast to more autonomous client states, such as vassal states. Consequently, some historians have adopted the term “informal colony” to denote a country effectively controlled by another state, though this expanded definition often sparks considerable debate.

In contemporary parlance, colonies are identified and organized as dependent territories, characterized by a lack of sufficient self-governance, as outlined in Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter . Many former colonies have since either achieved a substantial degree of incorporation and self-governance or have gained full independence. In some instances, however, they remain under the varying degrees of dominance exerted by lingering settler societies or through neocolonial arrangements.

Concept

The English word “colony” finds its roots in the Latin term colōnia, which the ancient Romans used to denote their outposts and, eventually, their cities. The Latin term colōnia itself is an evolution of colōnus, a word signifying a Roman tenant farmer .

Among the settlements that originated as Roman coloniae are cities like Cologne (whose modern name directly reflects this historical connection), Belgrade , and York . A telltale architectural feature often indicative of a settlement within the Roman sphere of influence that was once a Roman colony is a city center laid out in a grid pattern.

Historians and political scientists often draw a distinction between “settler colonies ” and other types of colonies. Settler colonies represent a more specific form of settlement or community, characterized by the migration of people from a colonizing power to establish a new home in a distant land, often with the intention of permanent residence.

Ancient examples

Further information: Colonies in antiquity
Carthage was established as a Phoenician colony.
Cádiz , too, originated as a Phoenician colony.
Cyrene began as a settlement of the Greeks from Thera .
Sicily was a territory with both Greek and Phoenician colonial presence.
Sardinia was also a Phoenician colony.
Marseille was founded as a Greek colony.
Malta was a colony established by the Phoenicians .
Cologne began its existence as a Roman colony, and its modern name directly references the Latin term “colonia.”
Kandahar was established as a Greek colony during the Hellenistic period by Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

More modern historical examples

Main article: List of colonies
See also: Timeline of national independence
L’Anse aux Meadows : A Norse settlement that existed around 1025 AD.
Angola : A colony of Portugal from the 16th century until it achieved independence in 1975.
Australia : Constituted as a British Dominion in 1901, it emerged from the federation of six distinct British colonies established between 1788 and 1829.
Barbados : A former colony of Great Britain, it played a significant role in the Atlantic slave trade. It attained its independence in 1966.
Brazil : A colony of Portugal from the 16th century, it declared independence in 1822.
Canada : Its colonial history began with French colonization as New France (1534–1763) and English presence (in Newfoundland , 1582). It subsequently came under British rule (1763–1867) before achieving Dominion status and shedding its “colony” designation.
Democratic Republic of the Congo : This territory was a colony of Belgium from 1908 to 1960. Prior to that, it existed under the private ownership of King Leopold II .
French Indochina : Established in October 1887, this federation comprised Annam, Tonkin, and Cochinchina (which together form modern Vietnam), along with the Kingdom of Cambodia. Laos was incorporated after the Franco-Siamese conflict of 1893 . The federation persisted until 1954. Within its four protectorates, the French maintained the pretense of leaving local rulers in power—the Emperors of Vietnam , Kings of Cambodia , and Kings of Luang Prabang—but in reality, all significant power resided with the French administration, rendering the local rulers largely symbolic.
Ghana : European contact with Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast , commenced in the 15th century with the arrival of the Portuguese . This initiated a period of colonization by various European powers, including the Portuguese Gold Coast (1482–1642), Dutch Gold Coast (1598–1872), Swedish Gold Coast (1650–1663), Danish Gold Coast (1658–1850), Brandenburger and Prussian Gold Coast (1685–1721), and ultimately the British Gold Coast (1821–1957). In 1957, Ghana became the first African colony south of the Sahara to achieve independence.
Greenland : It was a colony of Denmark-Norway from 1721 and later a colony of Denmark from 1814 to 1953. In 1953, Greenland was integrated as an equal part of the Danish Kingdom. Home rule was granted in 1979, evolving into self-rule in 2009. Refer also to Danish colonization of the Americas .
Guinea-Bissau : A colony of Portugal since the 15th century, it gained independence in 1974.
Hong Kong : This territory was a British colony , later designated a British Dependent Territory from 1983, from 1841 to 1997. It is now a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
India : This vast imperial entity, encompassing present-day India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, was under the direct control of the British Government of the United Kingdom from 1858 to 1947. Beyond British rule, Portuguese India , notably Goa , remained a colony of Portugal from the 15th century until 1961. Pondicherry and Chandernagore were part of French India from 1759 to 1954. Smaller Danish holdings, including Tharangambadi , Serampore , and the Nicobar Islands , were known as Danish India from 1620 to 1869.
Indonesia : This archipelago nation was a colony of the Netherlands , achieving full independence in 1949.
Jamaica : Initially part of the Spanish West Indies in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it became an English colony in 1655. Independence was achieved in 1962.
Liberia : Established in 1821 by American private citizens, it was conceived as a colony for the migration of African American freedmen . Liberia declared its independence from the American Colonization Society on July 26, 1847, becoming the second oldest black republic in the world, after Haiti .
Macau : This territory was a Portuguese colony , later designated a “Chinese territory under Portuguese administration” from 1976, from 1557 to 1999. In 1999, it transitioned to becoming a Special Administrative Region of China, mirroring Hong Kong’s status two years prior.
Malaysia : Its colonial history began with the Portuguese Empire capturing Malacca in 1511. Subsequently, Britain established colonies and trading posts on the Malay Peninsula , with Penang leased to the British East India Company . The Dutch Empire also engaged with Malaysia during their pursuit of spices for trade.
Malta : Following the French Revolutionary Wars , Malta became a British protectorate and later a colony from 1800 until its independence in 1964.
Mozambique : A colony of Portugal since the 15th century, it achieved independence in 1975.
Philippines : This nation was a colony of Spain from approximately 1565 to 1898, as part of the Spanish East Indies . It then became a colony of the United States from 1898 to 1946. Self-governing Commonwealth status was attained in 1935, with full independence in 1946.
Puerto Rico : This island was a colony of Spain from 1493 to 1898. In 1898, it transitioned to being a colonial possession of the United States , classified by the U.S. as “an unincorporated territory.” In 1914, the Puerto Rican House of Delegates unanimously passed a resolution advocating for independence from the United States, but this was deemed “unconstitutional” by the U.S. Congress and rejected, as was a violation of the U.S. 1900 Foraker Act . In 1952, following the U.S. Congress’s approval of Puerto Rico’s constitution, its formal designation became “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.” However, this new name “did not alter Puerto Rico’s political, social, and economic relationship with the United States.” That same year, the United States informed the United Nations that the island was a self-governing territory. The U.S. has been characterized as “unwilling to play in public the imperial role… it has no appetite for acknowledging in a public way the contradictions implicit in frankly colonial rule.” The island has been labeled a colony by numerous entities, including U.S. Federal judges, U.S. Congress members, the Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, and a multitude of scholars.
South Africa : The territory that now constitutes modern South Africa was historically governed by various African and European powers, including the Dutch and the British, as well as Nguni peoples. The region was under the direct rule of the British from 1806 to 1910, after which it became a self-governing dominion, the Union of South Africa , in 1910.
Sri Lanka : Known historically as Ceylon , this island was a British colony from 1815 to 1948, and a British Dominion until 1972. Earlier, it was a Portuguese colony during the 16th–17th centuries and a Dutch colony in the 17th–18th centuries.
Korea : This peninsula was a colony of Japan from 1910 to 1945. The establishment of North Korea and South Korea occurred in 1948.
Taiwan : The island’s history is marked by a complex period of colonial rule under various powers, including the Dutch (1624–1662), Spanish (1626–1642), Chinese (1683–1895), and Japanese (1895–1945). The ethno-linguistically Austronesian Taiwanese indigenous peoples were the original inhabitants (pre-1624), distinct from the majority of present-day Taiwanese people , who are predominantly ethno-linguistically Han Chinese . Twice in its history, Taiwan has served as a de facto rump state for Chinese governments: first, the Ming-loyalist Kingdom of Tungning (1662–1683), and second, the contemporary Republic of China (ROC). The ROC, claiming continuity or succession from the Republic of China (1912–1949) , retreated from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949 during the latter stages of the Chinese Civil War (1927–1949). The ROC, whose de facto territory is primarily the island of Taiwan and its smaller surrounding islands, continues to govern Taiwan as a separate entity from the People’s Republic of China , which encompasses mainland China , Hong Kong, and Macau .
The United States : This nation was formed from a union of thirteen British colonies . The Colony of Virginia was the first among these thirteen. All thirteen declared their independence in July 1776 and subsequently expelled British governors.

Current colonies

This section would typically detail current dependent territories and their sovereign states. The territories are usually identified according to ISO 3166-1 codes or numerical designations. Areas colored on maps without labels are generally considered integral parts of their respective countries. Antarctica , for instance, is depicted as a condominium rather than showing individual territorial claims.

The Special Committee on Decolonization maintains the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories , identifying areas that the United Nations, though not without some controversy, considers to be colonies. Given the varying degrees of autonomy and political influence that dependent territories possess within their controlling states, there exists ongoing disagreement regarding the precise classification of “colony.”

Settlements and outposts (civilian and military)

Border outpost – A military or civilian post maintained by a sovereign state on its border.
Human outpost – Human habitats established in environments that are challenging or inhospitable to human life.
Outpost (military) – A military post, often situated in a forward or remote location.
Bridgehead – A strategically important position secured on the enemy side of a river crossing, sought after for control.
Military base – A facility directly owned and operated by or for the military.
Military colony – A territory governed by another country, often with a significant military presence.
Crossroads village – A settlement located at the intersection of important routes.
Development town – Israeli towns established specifically to house new immigrants.
Mill town – A settlement that historically developed around one or more mills or factories.
Railway town – A settlement that emerged due to the construction of a railway line.
Caravanserei – A type of roadside inn or resting place for travelers, historically common along trade routes.
Mountain pass – A route through a mountain range or over a ridge, facilitating travel.
Stage station – A place offering rest and provisions for stagecoach travelers.
Waypoint – A specific point on a route of travel, often used for navigation.
Entrepôt – A hub for commercial activity, acting as a center for the storage and transshipment of goods.
Factory (trading post) – A term used historically (5th to 19th centuries) for a transshipment zone or trading post.
Free-trade area – A type of regional trade agreement where certain trade barriers are reduced or eliminated.
Free economic zone – A geographic area with specialized business and trade laws designed to attract investment and economic activity.
Exclusive economic zone – An adjacent sea zone in which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.
Special economic zone – A region designated with specialized business and trade laws to encourage economic development.
Industrial park – An area designated for the development of industrial activities.
Spice Trade – Historic international commerce, particularly involving the trade of spices.
Trading post – An area where economic activity between different groups or peoples is facilitated and often less regulated.
Border – The geographic boundaries of a political entity.
Frontier – An area located near or beyond a recognized boundary, often implying undeveloped or contested territory.
Frontier thesis – An argument proposed by historian Frederick Jackson Turner regarding the significance of the American frontier.
No-go area – An area where authorities are unable to enforce law or assert sovereignty.
No-mans land – A strip of land between wartime trenches or otherwise unoccupied and unclaimed territory.
Terra nullius – A Latin term in international law referring to land that is considered unoccupied or uninhabited, and therefore available for claim.

Notes

^ During its 8th session, the United Nations General Assembly recognized Puerto Rico’s self-government on November 27, 1953, with Resolution 748 (VIII). This resolution effectively removed Puerto Rico from the list of non-self-governing territories under Article 73(e) of the UN Charter. However, the vote was not unanimous, with only about 40% of the General Assembly in favor, and over 60% abstaining or voting against (20 in favor, 16 against, and 18 abstentions). The UN continues to debate Puerto Rico’s status, with ongoing discussions about whether it should still be considered a colony.
^ Sidney Mintz’s observation suggests, “Something in our history makes the idea of our ruling other people very difficult to deal with. Puerto Rico’s political status certainly has evolved in its century inside the North American ‘family.’ But the permanent interim political status of which Tomas Blanco wrote still has not ended.”
^ For additional contemporary references (as of 2021) regarding Puerto Rico’s colonial status under U.S. rule, see the works of Nicole Narea, Amy Goodman and Ana Irma Rivera Lassén, David S. Cohen, and Sidney W. Mintz.
^ Each territory within the United States Minor Outlying Islands is designated with a code starting with “UM-” followed by the first letter of its name, and an additional unique letter if necessary.
^ The following territories do not have assigned ISO 3166-1 codes: Akrotiri and Dhekelia , Ashmore and Cartier Islands , and Coral Sea Islands .