Teaching World History: Age of Imperialism Lesson Plans

This blog and the accompanying resource are part of a Shaped series providing teachers for Grades 6–12 with downloadable world history classroom resources and discussion topics. 

Imperialism refers to a country's use of diplomacy or military force to extend its rule over another nation or territory, oftentimes for political or economic purposes. In the late 19th century, various European nations aimed to expand their boundaries to other territories, mainly by colonizing parts of Africa.

European leaders met in Berlin, Germany, in 1884 to stake their claims in Africa and resolve conflicts over African colonies. However, they had little regard for the boundaries the Africans already had in place, which were often based on the location of ethnic groups, resulting in what became known as the "Scramble for Africa." By 1914, most of Africa was under European control. Meanwhile, the United States became involved in imperialism by acquiring territories such as the Philippines and Hawaii.

If you are looking to cover the immediate and long-term effects of imperialism with students, take a look at these Age of Imperialism resource links. Students can examine this timeline with a supplemental enrichment activity (available for download as a PDF), focusing on relevant events from 1850–1914. Then, consider sharing the accompanying resources: a (primary source enrichment activity for older students only) about the Boer War and the suffering of the civilian population, and a viewpoint on imperialism from George Bernard Shaw’s The Man of Destiny with a related writing enrichment activity.
 

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Learn more about HMH Social Studies, which presents the rich, endlessly inventive story of our world, challenging students to dig deep into the past.

Read more blogs about teaching world history on topics including:

• The Early Middle Ages
• Ancient Greece
• Hammurabi's Code of Laws
• The Renaissance
• The Reformation
• Absolute Monarchs
• Enlightenment and the American Revolution

This blog, originally published in 2020, has been updated for 2025.