Colonization is the process through which a country or a group establishes control over a foreign territory, often through settlement and the exploitation of resources. It typically involves the displacement of indigenous populations and the imposition of the colonizer's culture, governance, and economic systems. Historically, colonization has led to significant social, political, and economic changes in both the colonizers' and colonized societies. It often results in long-lasting impacts, including cultural assimilation and conflict.