A protectorate is an autonomous territory that is protected either by diplomatic means or military means by a state that is stronger than the autonomous territory. In return, the protectorate accepts certain obligations from the stronger state, but it still seen in the international community as sovereign. A colony is a state that is under immediate control of a stronger state and has no say whatsoever in it's own politics, economics and society, as that is under the control of the stronger state.
THIS IS 100% correct! *change is an underlying theme to understanding expansion and encounters through history.* I got this wrong on Odyssey ware by listening to everyone else, came back to prevent this from happening again.