"This book presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of imperialism in Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, France, and the Great Britain. It delves into the background of colonialization and focuses on the nature of the motives of necessity, utility, religious, and exploratory and the modus operandi of the establishment of the colonies which required substantial amount of capital. The volume discusses a wide range of themes including the role of Spain as a Muslim colony; rise and fall of Spain as an imperial power; Portuguese discoveries and colonialization; conquests of Dutch companies of East India and West Indies; the French company of the Indies; British colonies in Americas, Africa and Australasia and English East India Company to showcase a holistic history of European competition for trade through wars in North America, South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. This book will be of interest to general readers interested in history of colonization, imperialism, Third World studies, post-colonial studies, international relations, defense and strategic studies, South Asian history, and European history"--