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European Imperialism in Africa. Imperialism. Domination by a country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region. Motives. Economic By late 1800s, Europe had industrialized Needed Africa for its raw materials. Palm oil, rubber, ivory. Markets to sell goods.
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Imperialism • Domination by a country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region.
Motives • Economic • By late 1800s, Europe had industrialized • Needed Africa for its raw materials. • Palm oil, rubber, ivory. • Markets to sell goods
Motives • Political • Wanted to claim land to boost their power in the world; nationalism. • Navies needed bases around the world.
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”
Motives • European Racism • Social Darwinism • “Survival of the fittest” • Racial superiority to non-westerners
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
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”
“Scramble for Africa” • King Leopold II of Belgium colonized the Congo River Basin. • Set off chain reaction in Europe
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.
Berlin Conference Or another point of view?
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.”
European Colonization/Decolonization Patterns Berlin Conference of 1884-85
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.)
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.
Cecil Rhodes “The Colossus of Rhodes”
Struggle for South Africa • Migrating people • Zulu Tribe • Shaka; King of Zulu Nation • New weapons and war technology
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
Boer War The British The Boers
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.
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.”
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.
Effects • Positive • Roads, railroads, better transportation • Education • Medical Care • New agriculture methods
Effects • Negative • Europeans rejected African Tradition • African rejected traditional rulers • Close-knit villages split up due to displacement of work
Changes in Africa • Cash Crop plantations set up • Europeans introduced money economy instead of trade • Cash Crops instead of subsistence farming
Colonial Legacy • Europeans left behind anti-colonialism legacy • Did not prepare Africans for independence • Few experienced leaders • Boundaries were artificial creations.