The process by which a country establishes and maintains control over a foreign territory, often involving the settlement of people from the colonizing nation.
Related terms
Exploration: The act of traveling to unfamiliar places in order to discover new territories or resources.
Imperialism: The policy or practice of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or economic domination.
Mercantilism: An economic theory prevalent during colonial times that emphasizes exporting more than importing in order to accumulate wealth for the mother country.