The Colonial Period

Some commentators identify three waves of European colonialism. The two main countries in the first wave of European colonialism were Portugal and Spain. The Portuguese started the long age of European colonization with the conquest of Ceuta, Morocco in 1415

The second wave of European colonialism commenced with Britain's involvement in Asia in support of the British East India Company.

The third wave ("New Imperialism") consisted of the Scramble for Africa regulated by the terms of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.

Only fourteen 20th century independent countries escaped formal colonization by European powers: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Bhutan, China, Iran, Japan, Liberia, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, and Turkey as well as North Yemen.