Colonisation and Development

Abstract

This paper describes the nature of European colonisation, particularly of the Americas, in the period from the 16th to the 19th centuries. It details the importance of slaves purchased from Africa in the settlement process. Although Spain was the first major European coloniser, its importance was supplanted over time by the British.

Keywords:

• institutions
• economic development
• slavery
• European migration
• sugar

JEL classification:

• N
• O

Notes

³China also merits inclusion in the list of colonisers of this era.

⁴This point is buttressed since Europe was at some earlier time colonised by societies from Asia or the southern Mediterranean.

⁵Spain's relative decline was at a time when there remained absolute increases in the number of immigrants.

⁶This paper draws upon work presented in Stanley L. Engerman and Kenneth L. Sokoloff, Economic Development in the Americas Since 1500: Endowments and Institutions, which should be referred to for more details on data presentation and analytical arguments.