From the daring adventurers sailing across the Atlantic in search of the riches of the East to the first wave of European settlers on America's shores, colonialism played a major role in the formation of our modern-day country. Colonialism covers the nine key concepts of colonialism: colonies, economics and trade, European nations, explorers and conquerors, government, Native Americans, people and society, religion, and wars and battles. With an in-depth explanation of the history of colonization, beginning with early world exploration, readers will learn about the most important figures, events, and issues that built the foundation for the United States.