The maps indicate that the regions that gained independence in the second half of the twentieth century were regions that were either colonized or mandates of the colonial powers. Most of the nations that became independent in the second half of the twentieth century were in Asia and Africa. Most of these continents were under foreign rule, as they were colonized by the European colonial powers. It was only after the World War II ended, that the people in these regions started to gain independence, and the main reason why that happened was that their overlords were exhausted economically and military, thus not being able to contain them anymore.