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African Resistance to Imperialism. European Methods. Major European Advantages: 1) Superior Military Technology 2) Lack of Unity Among Africans Partially due to the lingering effects of the Slave Trade Partially due to Europeans’ arbitrary borders European Strategies: 1) Divide and Conquer
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European Methods • Major European Advantages: • 1) Superior Military Technology • 2) Lack of Unity Among Africans • Partially due to the lingering effects of the Slave Trade • Partially due to Europeans’ arbitrary borders • European Strategies: • 1) Divide and Conquer • Example: The Baganda were given special status, and chosen to govern other ethnic groups (such as the Acholiand Langi) in the British colony of Uganda • 2) “Scorched Earth Policy” (Where Divide and Conquer Failed) • Example: German response to the MajiMaji Rebellion in the colony of Tanganyika (1905-1907) • Total Deaths: Europeans—15; African soldiers—389; African civilians—200,000 – 300,000
African Resistance • Despite their obvious disadvantages, Africans resisted European colonization throughout the continent • Forms of Resistance • 1) Military • Example: MajiMaji Rebellion, Zulu War, Battle of Adowa • 2) Cultural and Religious Resistance • 3) Economic Resistance • Example: African farmers frequently “squatted” on agricultural lands that were reserved for Europeans • 4) Political Resistance • Mostly coalesced after the World Wars; more on this later in the year
Case Study in Resistance: Shaka Zulu • Leader of the Zulu people of South Africa in the early 1800s • He modernized Zulu battle tactics, and succeeded in limiting the territorial claims of the Dutch in South Africa • His success also depended on his ability to unify the various Zulu tribes in resistance • The Zulu empire survived past Shaka’s death, but was ultimately conquered when the British broughtthe full weight of their military at the Zulus during the Anglo-Zulu War (1879)
Case Study in Resistance: The Battle of Adowa • 1889—Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II signs a treaty with Italy • Granting Italy control over Eritrea in exchange for money and weapons • The two sides disagreed over the treaty’s interpretations, leading the Italians to invade Ethiopia in 1896 • At the Battle of Adowa, Menelik used a larger army and Italian weapons to deal the imperialists and embarrassing defeat • The Italians were also disorganized, and unaccustomed to Ethiopia’s mountainous terrain • The Treaty of Addis Ababa guaranteed Ethiopian independence