The historical phenomenon of colonization is one that stretches around the globe and across time. including such desperate people as the Hittites, the Incas and the
British. European colonialism began in the 15th century, with the age of discovery led by Portuguese and Spanish exploration of the Americas, the coast of Africa, the Middle
East, India and East !\sía. During the l 6tl, and 17'" centuries, England, France and1-holland established their own oversea empires, indirect competition with each other.