colonisation

Everyday

1. When one country takes control of another land and sends people to live there, often taking power from the people already living there. tree →
2. (science) When plants or animals move into a new place and start living there. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, the colonisation of America, Australia, Africa and India by European powers is studied, including the harm done to Indigenous peoples. In science, plants colonise bare ground after a fire. Phrases: the colonisation of, space colonisation.

Examples

• The colonisation of Australia began in 1788. tree →
• Colonisation took land from Indigenous peoples. tree →
• Moss is often the first plant in the colonisation of bare rock. tree →
• Some people dream of the colonisation of Mars. tree →
• India gained independence after years of British colonisation. tree →
• Lessons discuss both what colonisers built and the harm they did. tree →

Note

UK -isation, US -ization. Verb: colonise/colonize. People see it from different sides; Indigenous peoples often describe it as invasion.