Why were colonies important to European Countries?
Colonies were important for a number of reasons, economic development & creation of wealth. Colonies were developed to find gain and exploit raw materials, & harvest crops. It allowed land locked countries to gain much needed land and induced the industrial revolution. Raw materials were gathered/harvested/mined transported to the home country, refined/manufactured into finished products then sold throughout the world. Colonist gained influnce as there skills and abilities grew, as example the US. The colonist gained so much power and influence that they cast of their association with the colonial power. The colonials powers gained wealth and influence, small countries suck as Beligum and Holland gained enough power to remain independent in Europe where the were hemded in by the superpowers of the time, France, Great Britian, Germany & Russia. The colonies also provided a labor force, additional manpower, and strategic importance. Spain and Portugal initally benifited from there numero
