Final answer:
A settlement owned and ruled by a different country is called a colony. These colonies were established by countries such as Britain, France, and Spain in heavily populated, foreign lands with little regard for local populations or future sovereignty. Settler societies and vassal states often developed under imperial rule until some sought independence or territories were divided among competing empires.
Step-by-step explanation:
A settlement owned and ruled by a different country is typically referred to as a colony. During the era of colonialism, European powers such as Britain, France, and Spain established colonies in heavily populated, foreign lands. These new lands were viewed as areas to extract resources from and exert control over, often ignoring the rights and futures of native populations.
Settler societies were created when European settlers established permanent residence in these territories, some of which, like the Thirteen Colonies in North America, eventually sought independence. It was common for the ruling empires to restrict trade to their own benefit, as seen in the relationship between the American colonies and Britain prior to the American Revolution. The term vassal state is also related, describing a nominally independent state that is subject to the demands and tribute requirements of a dominating empire.
In some cases, empires would divide the land among themselves to avoid conflicts. For example, the division of the Samoan islands among Germany, Britain, and the United States in 1899 illustrates how foreign powers could influence and control territories even when the native monarchy was abolished.