European Imperialism in Africa

1. European Imperialism in Africa

2. Imperialism • Domination by a country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region.

3. Motives • Economic • By late 1800s, Europe had industrialized • Needed Africa for its raw materials. • Palm oil, rubber, ivory. • Markets to sell goods

4. Motives • Political • Wanted to claim land to boost their power in the world; nationalism. • Navies needed bases around the world.

5. Motives • Religious • Missionary Work • Wanted to spread Western religion (Christianity) • Believed it was superior • Some set up health care and schools • Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden”

6. Motives • European Racism • Social Darwinism • “Survival of the fittest” • Racial superiority to non-westerners

7. Exploration • Until 1800s, Europeans relied on Tribal leaders for slaves. • Did not explore on their own • During the 19th century, they began to search for the source of the African rivers. John Speke: The Source of the Nile

8. Dr. David Livingstone • Missionary; Traveled the continent for 30 years. • Newspapers, family thought he was dead • Wrote about experiences, paved way for other explorers. • Found by Henry Stanley in 1871. • “Dr. Livingstone I presume”

9. European Explorers in Africa

10. “Scramble for Africa” • King Leopold II of Belgium colonized the Congo River Basin. • Set off chain reaction in Europe

12. Berlin Conference • To avoid war, European powers set up meeting in Berlin, Germany. • No Africans invited • Results • Free trade on major rivers • Must set up govt. office • Officials would exert power over tribe leaders.

13. Berlin Conference Or another point of view? 

14. Ethnic and linguistic differences in Africa (around 1800)

15. Africa in 1913, colonized by European powers

16. Results of Berlin Conference • 20 years after, almost entire continent was colonized • France controlled large part • No understanding of tradition or geography • “We have been engaged in drawing lines upon maps where no white man’s foot has ever trod.”

17. The Berlin Conference

18. European Colonization/Decolonization Patterns Berlin Conference of 1884-85

19. Horrors of the Congo • Leopold exploited resources of Congo • Rubber, ivory, copper • Belgian overseers tortured African workers • Hands and ears amputated • Population decline in some areas • Leopold had to turn colony over to Belgian govt. 5-8 Million Victims (50% of Pop.)

20. Taping Rubber Trees

21. Belgium’s “Heart of Darkness”

23. Types of Colonial Rule • Direct Rule – European nations governed colonies at all levels • Indirect Rule – Traditional rulers were not replaced as long as they cooperated with European powers; much cheaper.

24. Cecil Rhodes “The Colossus of Rhodes”

25. Struggle for South Africa • Migrating people • Zulu Tribe • Shaka; King of Zulu Nation • New weapons and war technology

26. The Boer War • Boers = Dutch farmers • moved north due to resentment of British • Found gold and diamonds in the Boer Republics • British wanted to control area • 1899 – 1902; British won, heavy casualties. Raw Diamonds

27. Boer War The British The Boers

28. African Resistance • Met across the continent • Algeria = France • Successful Resistance • Ethiopia • Christian Kingdom in East Africa • Menelik II; Leader • “Westernized” civilization • Ready when Italy tried to invade in 1896 • Ethiopia and Liberia only nations to maintain independence.

29. Why Did Europe Succeed? • Tribal Wars in West Africa and decline of empires weakened older civilizations. • 2 Inventions 1. Medicine to cure disease (malaria, yellow fever) 2. “Whatever happens, we have got…the Maxim gun, and they have not.”

30. Why was it so EASY?

31. Impacts • Positive • Western educated African elite emerged • Admired West, rejected own culture • By 1900s, African leaders forged nationalist movements to pursue independence. • Normally the elite.

32. Effects • Positive • Roads, railroads, better transportation • Education • Medical Care • New agriculture methods

33. Effects • Negative • Europeans rejected African Tradition • African rejected traditional rulers • Close-knit villages split up due to displacement of work

34. Changes in Africa • Cash Crop plantations set up • Europeans introduced money economy instead of trade • Cash Crops instead of subsistence farming

35. Colonial Legacy • Europeans left behind anti-colonialism legacy • Did not prepare Africans for independence • Few experienced leaders • Boundaries were artificial creations.

36. Colonization