Since the fifteenth century, the world colonial system began to form , which was caused by the emergence of technical capabilities to overcome great distances, mainly by sea. This was the reason why the remote possessions of Spain, Britain, France, Portugal and some other countries were most often called overseas territories. Then the concept of “metropolis” arose. This is a state whose flag flutters over captured foreign land.
Colonization Technique
The main reason why the very fact of the discovery of a new island, archipelago, and sometimes the whole continent almost in itself meant the transfer to the ownership of a monarch was the technical superiority of European countries over the indigenous population. It mainly manifested itself in the presence of effective means of suppressing resistance, in other words, guns and rifles. The future metropolis used this weapon as a capture tool.
The numerical superiority of the peoples living in the "open" territories did not matter, the colonialists acted both by force and by deceit, sometimes acquiring whole islands with a handful of glass beads and frightening displeased with volleys of guns.
European colonies
At the same time, the country — the future metropolis — could not always boast of civilizational or cultural superiority. This is clearly demonstrated by numerous examples of scientific achievements and works of art, looted by the invaders and exhibited in museums in London, Paris, Madrid and other capitals of the countries that own the colonies. The metropolises and colonies of Britain, France, Belgium and other countries were correlated as an acceptor and a donor. Resources were pumped out of India or Egypt, fueling the English economy. Diamonds of the Congo flowed into the treasury of the Belgian magnates.
Colony "vice versa" in Russia
Initially, the ancient Greek word “colony” did not mean overseas possession, but a settlement founded by representatives of a city (polis or metropolis) away from their native places. The Germans settled in Russia under Catherine the Great (the so-called almost all Europeans), attracted by excellent opportunities and free enterprise. Until the end of the thirties of the twentieth century, the German colonists lived and worked in different cities of the Novorossiysk province and the Volga region. Thus, the Russian empire owned the colonies, as it were, “vice versa”, placing foreigners inside themselves, creating favorable conditions for them and supporting the national outskirts. European countries behaved differently, preferring to rob captured land.
In the middle of the twentieth world colonial system came to an end. Only some states still have grounds (however, very conditional) to continue to call themselves the proud word "metropolis". This is Great Britain with its Falkland Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar and a number of other small estates, France (Clipperton, Guiana, etc.) and Denmark (Faroe Islands and Greenland).