The Scramble for the Pacific: How Europe Divided the Ocean

The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History · Sep 17, 2026 · 11m · transcript

We often think of colonialism as a land-based conquest, defined by borders drawn on continents like Africa or Asia. But in the late nineteenth century, European powers turned their gaze to the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, a region previously governed by complex indigenous networks and informal trade rather than imperial decree. This episode explores how Britain, Germany, France, and the United States began to carve up Oceania, transforming sovereign islands into protectorates and colonies. We look at specific turning points, such as the annexation of Hawaii and the division of New…