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The most notable was the Roman Empire. Romans colonized and exploited vast areas of Europe for centuries for the benefit of Rome.
There were instances of invasion and foreign ruling by Africans and Arabs in Europe as well.
More recently, the Germans attacked and colonized France for a brief period of years. The Russians attacked and colonized almost half of Europe...
Europe was completely destroyed less that 100 years ago and many areas in Europe suffered terrible famines, some comparable or worse than Sudan now.
If you see colonialism as a foreign group establishing control over a people and region over a long time, then:
* The Roman Empire colonized Europe for hundreds of years
* Napoleon colonized most of continental Europe (this one might be debatable)
* The British colonized Ireland and Scotland
* The Ottomans colonized the Balkans
* Muslim Caliphates colonized Spain/Al-Andalus
* The Vikings colonized areas around the north sea.
And probably a lot of smaller scales things I am missing.
It's the British Isles. Scotland joined England in the United Kingdom.
This is just one where you're clearly incorrect.
Colonialism developed as a concept describing European colonial empires of the modern era, which spread globally from the 15th century to the mid-20th century.
That kills off almost all of your examples.
That people in the comments aren't even taking the time to check the definition of terms is sad. The statements pro colonialism reek of racism and white supremacy.
The concept was developed from European colonial empires, but it describes more than just them.
The way Muslims invaded Portugal and Spain, established their strongholds, exploited native population and maintained their rule for several centuries until kicked out fits the same mold, as do countless other examples, from Northern Crusades a thousand years ago to Soviet Union's domination of Central and Eastern Europe just a few decades ago.
If you think that European nations do not have a long history of being invaded by foreigners, seeing their land taken away and given to settlers while being made inferior and exploited, then you are very wrong and I encourage you to pick up a history book on any smaller European nation.
The United Kingdom you refer to has a fuller name - "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" (past) replaced by "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (present).
I assume you're familiar enough with history to recognise that Ireland(landmass/people/culture) was a colony of the British (with or without your pedantry)?
Sure, they "chose" to joined Brits over being decapitated. Great choice for them!
The Arab imperialists left here 500 years ago.
If I were to live further to the East in many of today’s EU/European countries, I could very well live in places where Ottoman imperialists left only 100 years ago.
Sudan is now free of imperialists for 70 years. Only 30 years less than countries like Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and a few others in Europe.
The Celts were colonized by Romans and then colonized again by Franks, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans. Western Slavs, Balts, and Estonians were colonized by Germans. Parts of Balkans (esp. Greece) were colonized by the Ottomans.
Right now in Donbas and Crimea.
Any of these ring a bell?