Colonialism

1. Colonialism Political, social, economic, cultural domination of a territory and its people by a foreign power for an extended period of time

2. 2 MAJOR PHASES OF EUROPEAN COLONIALISM PHASE 1: 1490s—1820s • Spain & Portugal colonized Central, South, and North America • Britain colonized North America, India, Australia (1788), parts of the Caribbean • Dutch colonized South Africa, Singapore • France colonized Canada, parts of the Caribbean • 1800s: Independence Movements began

3. TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE: 1600—1800 • Europeans captured West African slaves (in exchange for guns, alcohol, tobacco, etc.) • Shipped them to the Americas and Caribbean Islands to work on plantations (sugar, cotton, tobacco, coffee) • Beginning of the Global Plantation Economy

4. 2 MAJOR PHASES OF EUROPEAN COLONIALISM PHASE 2: 1850s—1950s • Western Europe colonized Africa, the rest of Asia, and the Pacific Islands • 1914: Britain and French Empires were at their height; EU Empires controlled 85% of world! • 1950s: Independence Movements started to succeed

5. RACE 1. CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION No biological basis, although there is often an assumed biological commonality such as shared genes or “blood” • Race categories change over time and vary from place to place 2. GENETIC EVIDENCE Proves that there are more differences within so-called “races” than between them

6. RACE (cont.) 3. PHENOTYPE (physical expression of genes) • Many societies define “race” by phenotype, such as: skin color, hair form, facial features, eye color • But…the lines of distinction are not clear • The MEANING of the phenotypic features is culturally constructed

7. Putting Cultural Ideas into Practice PREJUDICE Devaluing a group because of assumed behavior, values, capabilities, etc. DISCRIMINATION Policies and practices that harm a group and its members RACISM Discrimination against a group assumed to have biological commonality

8. AFRICA

9. AFRICA • CONTINENT with regions (North, South, East, West) • 1776-1870: Colonized by Europe and US during last phase of colonialism • 1807: Britain abolished slave trade • 1834: Britain abolished slavery & established “legitimate trade” in cashcrops, turning subsistence economies into “mono crop” economies

10. AFRICA • 1884: “Scramble for Africa” at the Berlin Conference on West Africa • 1884-1912: 5 EU nations—Germany, Italy, Portugal, France, Britain ( + Spain, Belgium) sliced Africa up like a pie • Most African nations fought for and won independence from their colonizers in the mid-1900s • 1960: Niger became independent from France

11. NIGER

12. NIGER • Straddles the Sahara & Sahel Deserts • Fragile environment of semi-arid brush • Farming: shifting cultivation • Pre-colonial Economy: trans-Saharan trade in livestock, agricultural products • Colonial Economy: cowpea trade (cash crop) • Vulnerable to drought & unreliable global commodity markets

13. NIGER • Size: about twice size of TX, 1 of hottest countries in the world • Capital: Niamey • 2005 population estimate = 11.6 million • Ethnic Groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, & Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates • Life Expectancy = 42 years • Resources: gold, uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, cassava, and rice

14. NIGER ECONOMY • Exports: uranium ore, livestock products, cowpeas, onions • Imports: consumer goods, machinery, vehicles and parts, gasoline, cereal • 2000: Qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) • Reduces Niger's annual debt: frees funds for basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs • Half Niger’s budget: from foreign donor resources • Future growth: may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources

15. NIGER POLITICS • 1993: held first free and open elections • 1996 & 1999: military coups led by Tuaregs • 1999: National Reconciliation Council facilitated transition to civilian rule • Since 1999: President of the Republic, Mamadou Tandja

16. NIGER RELIGION 80%: Muslim 20%: Christian & indigenous beliefs Fusion of the Worlds: How do the Songhay turn to their indigenous worldview and practices in order to “talk back to” the impending crises of drought and living in poverty?