Where was the first colony in the world? Are there any colonies now?

British Sky TV reported on June 14 that researchers are investigating the relationship between the owner of a grave in Suffolk County and the skeleton in Virginia, because it may change the history of the United States.

Archaeologists believe that they have found the remains of bartholomew, and bartholomew was the pioneer who established the first colony in America decades before the Puritans settled in America. Now, researchers hope to find a DNA match with Bacelo's sister.

Two years ago, the remains of the earliest American settlers were found in Jamestown, Virginia (1607, the capital of St. Helena, a British American colony, located at the mouth of the James River in Virginia).

Bartholomew is an unknown hero. He is the founder of Jamestown and the founder of modern America. He established an English-speaking colony in the United States and laid the rudiment of modern American law and government system.

His sister Elizabeth is also buried in a church in Jamestown. If relevant tests prove this possibility, historians can be sure that they have discovered the founder of modern America.

There are still colonies in the world, so there is no last one.

1. First, let's review the concept of colony.

Colony refers to the area ruled by the suzerain, which has no independent rights in politics, economy, military affairs and diplomacy, and is completely controlled by the suzerain. Colonies in a broad sense also include semi-colonial countries and protectorates controlled by other countries in one or more aspects such as economy, military affairs and diplomacy, although they have administrative organs, military and other state machines.

2. Then, look at the situation so far.

Now most colonies have gained independence, and the world colonial system no longer exists, but there are still some areas, such as New Caledonia, Greenland, Puerto Rico and Guam. Which ones are not independent, but they all have certain autonomy.

Third, let us know its history.

Ancient colonies were mostly the continuation of the suzerain country overseas, such as Carthage founded by Phoenicians. In ancient Greece, Greek cities established many colonies along the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, once as far away as the coasts of North Africa and Spain. The Greek colonial movement began with the need of trade with overseas regions. At the same time, some Greek citizens were dissatisfied with the political status quo of their city-states, or emigrated overseas because of the small land and large population. After the establishment of Greek overseas colonies, most of them maintained political independence, but maintained certain ties with their home countries, sent representatives to participate in the ancient Olympic Games in various parts of Greece, and took pride in being the outpost of Greek civilization. Some Greek colonies have survived to this day, such as Syracuse (now Syracuse) in Sicily, taranto and Byzantium (now Istanbul).

The modern word "colony" comes from "Colonia" in ancient Rome, which originally refers to the village community composed of Roman citizens and their families guarding the coast of Apennine Peninsula. With the expansion of Roman territory, this system gradually expanded to newly conquered areas and evolved into a colonial system. Colonists still enjoy all the rights of Roman citizens, but the population of conquered areas cannot enjoy Roman citizenship (in the late Roman Republic and Roman Empire, with the romanization of conquered areas, citizenship was granted to colonial people).

4. Special circumstances.

It has always been a controversial issue whether the newly conquered areas connected with the original territory of our country but different in race and culture can be counted as colonies. In history, the Russian colonization of Central Asia, Siberia and North America, the westward movement of the United States, the colonization of Eastern Europe by the Teutonic Knights, and the conquest of the surrounding areas of the Central Plains (such as Lingnan, Baiyue, Central Asia, Mongolia and Tibet) by some ancient dynasties in China all have the nature of conquering colonies. Some historians also count these conquests of new territories as colonial movements. However, some historians believe that after being conquered, these areas have evolved into new provinces (or states) with equal status with other administrative divisions of the suzerain, and adopted the language, culture and ideology of the suzerain, so they should not be counted as colonies.

A compromise view holds that conquest itself is regarded as a colonial act, but when the conquered area joins the suzerain as an entity with the same status as other political entities of the suzerain (such as provinces and States), and its residents enjoy completely equal political rights with the citizens of the suzerain, the period of the region as a colony ends. Take American history as an example, that is, from the territory of the new west to the territory joining the United States as a state, this period can be regarded as the colonial period of this region (such as Alaska from 1867 to 1959). Historically, the vassal relationship between China's neighboring countries and China is also different from that between colonies and suzerain countries, because these countries have internal political autonomy and are completely independent economically and militarily. In fact, this relationship is somewhat similar to the relationship between the German States and the emperor in the early days of the Holy Roman Empire, and the surrender of European countries to the Vatican in Rome before the Reformation.

5. Another controversy.

The second controversial issue is the difference between overseas territories and colonies. Some desolate and uninhabited small colonies (mostly islands) whose residents are immigrants from the suzerain country, enjoy complete and full political rights, have the same culture as the suzerain country, have a sense of identity with the suzerain country, or are too desolate to have permanent residents, and cannot be regarded as colonies. Specifically, for example, the Falkland Islands, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha in Britain and Bouvet in Norway. Although some overseas provinces in France are different from France in race, they also have a strong sense of identity with French culture and are unwilling to be independent.

On the contrary, if a colony is listed as an "overseas territory" or an "overseas province", but its residents cannot enjoy completely equal political rights with the citizens of the suzerain country due to reasons such as color, race and belief, the region is still regarded as a colony. The most famous example in this regard is that after Portugal declared Angola, Mozambique and other African colonies as "overseas provinces" in the 1950' s, most countries in the world did not recognize these areas as non-colonial areas because the local blacks could not enjoy full civil rights. The same example is that after iain smith announced the independence of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1965+065438+ 10/,because the political status of blacks in China was still the same as before independence, except for a few countries such as South Africa and Portugal, all countries in the world, including Britain, did not recognize Rhodesia as an independent country. Britain also put forward a principle called "NIBMAR", that is, "there is no real independence before the majority rule in Africa".

6. We should defend a principle.

In other words, no country can claim Antarctica as its own or declare it as its own colony.

7. Some relevant information.

Existing colonies and overseas territories

Britain: Bermuda, Falkland Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Gibraltar, Pitcairn Island and Diego Garcia Island.

France: Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, reunion island, New Caledonia, wallis islands and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, society islands, Mayotte, French South Territory and Antarctic Territory.

Netherlands: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Denmark: Greenland, Faroe Islands

Norway: Bouvet Island

United States: Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands.

Spain: Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla

Portugal: Madeira Islands, Azores Islands

New Zealand: Tokelau

Australia: Christmas Island, norfolk island, macquarie island, Hurd Island.

8. List of Non-Self-Governing Territories published by the United Nations Decolonization Committee

Africa

Western Sahara

Europe

Gibraltar (UK)

Atlantic region

Anguilla (United Kingdom)

Bermuda

British Virgin Islands (UK)

Falkland Islands (including South Georgia) (UK)

Cayman Islands (UK)

Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)

Montserrat (UK)

St Helena (including Goff, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension) (United Kingdom)

Pacific region

American Samoa (USA)

Guam (USA)

New Caledonia (France)

Pitcairn Island (United Kingdom)

Tokelau (New Zealand)

9. Finally, about Australia.

A Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and France arrived here from17th century, especially at the end of17th century, when the British entered Australia, the 50,000-year occupation of this continent by Australian aborigines came to an end. 1770, Britain claimed sovereignty over Australia. 1October 26th,1788,65438+65438, the first group of people led by British navigator arthur phillip settled in Sydney, where the British flag was raised, and Australia officially became a British colony. After that, Australia once became a British exile. 185 1 After the discovery of gold mines, the number of free immigrants surged. By the end of 19, Britain had established six colonies in Australia.

190 1 year 1 month 1 day, the three colonies in Australia were changed to states to form the Commonwealth of Australia, which became a federation or dominion within the British Empire. Australia is a constitutional monarchy country, and the "Australian monarch" is the head of state. According to Australian law, the British monarch is the Australian monarch. 193 1 year, Australia gained independence in domestic and foreign affairs and became an independent country in the Commonwealth. 1986, Queen Elizabeth II signed the Australia Relations Act in Australia, which stipulated that the Supreme Court of Australia had the power of final adjudication, and British laws were no longer valid for Australia. Whether Australia held a referendum in 1999 and replaced the Queen with the * * * system, the final result was negative.

B. Simply put, the Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy, the Queen of Australia is the head of state, and the Governor-General is the representative of the Queen. But in fact, the monarch is symbolic. The executive power is controlled by the elected cabinet, and the Prime Minister is the leader of the cabinet. The Prime Minister is usually the majority leader in the House of Representatives.

The Federal Parliament consists of two houses: the House of Representatives (150 seats) and the Senate (76 seats). The two houses hold general elections every three years.

C. Australian political parties:

Australian liberal party.

Australian labour party.

Australian Democratic Party

Unity party

Australia's Green Party

A national party is also translated as a "single national party"

Australian national party.

10. Finally, let's summarize.

And colonies. But not in the sense of a hundred years ago.

According to the above, Australia is no longer a colony. Just as a member of the Commonwealth. What do you want to know about the Commonwealth?

The leader of Australia is the Prime Minister, who is elected by his own people and finally appointed by the King of England.

References:

Wikipedia. Unfortunately, it seems to have been blocked recently, and I feel that I can't open it for a long time.