Final answer:
Colonization of India was facilitated by the British East India Company, exploiting economic and military strength. China's semi-colonization stemmed from military defeats and unequal treaties. Key regions succumbed to European imperialism due to industrial and technological disparities and internal political fragmentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key factors that led to the colonization and semi-colonization of India and China were multifaceted, involving economic interests, technological advancements, and military strategies. In India, European powers like the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and eventually the British were drawn by the country's wealth, particularly its textile industry, and the opportunity to exploit its raw materials and labor. The British East India Company played a pivotal role in establishing British dominion in the region, leveraging economic influence and military power to control local markets and resources.
In China, European imperialism was met with initial resistance, as the country had a strong tradition of industrialization and advanced technologies such as paper, gunpowder, and printing. However, military defeats, such as those in the Opium Wars, and diplomatic pressures led to the 'opening up' of China's markets to foreign trade. This spelled an era of semi-colonization where Western powers, and eventually Japan, established spheres of influence within China.
Both regions faced challenges to modernizing and resisting European influence due to internal fragmentation, technological gaps, and external pressures from the West's pursuit of global empires. The Seven Years' War and related treaties weakened other European powers' presence in India, clearing the path for British hegemony. The various unequal treaties imposed on China, such as the Treaty of Nanking, eroded sovereignty and opened the door to European economic control.