Talk:Colonization

From the article: "invading and taking over the sovereignty of another area, which then becomes known as a colony" ... There's an interesting reluctance to label some events as colonizations, or areas as colonies. Perhaps the difference is whether there's an attempt to supplant the native population or eradicate its culture. For example, was not Algeria officially part of France? That sounds to us today like bunkum, since there were plenty of North Africans there to keep Islam and the rest of the culture in good shape – "of course it's colonization". The central Asian Khanates officially became part of Russia in the 19th century – strangely this isn't often called colonization. Is that because it's "expansion" into neighbouring "failed states"? (And Plains Indians and Israeli "settlements", well, let's leave them well alone...) — Hotlorp

What about colonization in Europe in the Middle Ages, when large areas of forests were turned into fields? --Eleassar777 10:07, 7 May 2005 (UTC)