<P> Western imperialism in Asia as presented in this article pertains to Western European entry into what was first called the East Indies . This was sparked early in the 15th century by the search for trade routes to China that led directly to the Age of Discovery , and the introduction of early modern warfare into what was then called the Far East . By the early 16th century the Age of Sail greatly expanded Western European influence and development of the Spice Trade under colonialism . There has been a presence of Western European colonial empires and imperialism in Asia throughout six centuries of colonialism , formally ending with the independence of the Portuguese Empire 's last colony East Timor in 2002 . The empires introduced Western concepts of nation and the multinational state . This article attempts to outline the consequent development of the Western concept of the nation state . </P>
when did imperialism start in the middle east
sparked early in the 15th century by the search for trade routes to China that led directly to the Age of Discovery