THE “DARK” CONTINENT “Dark Continent” – racist terminology referred to both the peoples of Africa and their alleged ignorance In reality, Africa has always had diverse groups of people with their own unique cultures and histories – Civilizations – Languages – Religions

The arrival of Europeans changed Africa Before Europeans, Africa was divided into tribal clans …and powerful Islamic kingdoms During the Age of Exploration, Europeans explored the African coast …and brought African slaves to their colonies in America The Industrial Revolution led to imperialism in Africa in the mid-1800s

GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA Continent – not a country Continent is three times larger than Europe Northern Africa – desert Mid-to-southern Africa – diverse climates and topography

The “OPENING UP” OF AFRICA Mid-1800s Missionaries and explorers sparked foreign interest in Africa

DAVID LIVINGSTONE ( ) Scottish missionary – lived in central Africa – Explored Africa Named Lake Victoria after the British queen – Converted many Africans to Christianity – Wrote books on Africa which piqued foreign interest 1871 – reported “lost” – “Found” by Henry Stanley – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

HENRY STANLEY ( ) Welsh-American reporter “Found” Dr. Livingstone in Africa – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Explored Africa – Congo River – Lake Tanganyika – Lake Victoria Worked with Belgium’s King Leopold II and his African colonization company – International African Society

Where Is Dr. Livingstone? Dr. David Livingstone Doctor Livingstone, I Presume? Sir Henry Morton Stanley

European Explorations in mid-19c Set the Stage for the Scramble for Africa

CECIL RHODES ( ) British businessman and politician in southern Africa Made a fortune from African diamond mines Established South African Company – Land later became Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Prime minister of Cape Colony ( ) – Wanted British control over South Africa – Wanted Cape-to-Cairo Railroad Architect of British imperialism in southern Africa – Great Britain became leading colonial power in southern Africa

CECIL RHODES ( )

KING LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM ( ) Took over land in central Africa Created European race for African colonies – “Scramble for Africa” – Diamonds, foodstuffs, gold, ivory, rubber

The Congo Free State or The Belgian Congo

King Leopold II: (r – 1909)

Harvesting Rubber

Punishing “Lazy” Workers

5-8 Million Victims! (50% of Popul.) It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. -- Belgian Official

Belgium’s Stranglehold on the Congo

Leopold’s Conscience??

Berlin Conference of Another point of view?  Leopold’s claim to the Congo was recognized at the Berlin Conference Belgian Congo (1908) –Leopold criticized for the cruelty of his rule in the Congo –Leopold forced to sell Congo Free State to Belgian government –Renamed Belgian Congo

Britain France Germany Italy Portugal Belgium Spain Europeans In Africa By 1914

Britain’s claims in Africa included heavily populated areas with greater natural resources. British Territory Britain controlled Egypt because of its strategic location.

BRITISH IN NORTH AFRICA Egypt – in name ruled by Ottoman Turks, but largely independent European capital investments – Suez Canal opened in 1869 Built by the Egyptians and French Taken over by the British (1875) – British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli » Bought shares in Suez Canal Company from Egypt o Egypt was nearly bankrupt from the expense of building the Suez Canal » British government became largest shareholder

EUROPEANS IN EGYPT 1870s – with the Egyptian government bankrupt, the British and French took over financial control of the country – Egyptian monarchs (technically Ottoman viceroys) ruled as puppet leaders 1882 – Egyptian nationalist rebellion – France withdrew its troops – Great Britain left in control of Egypt Lord Cromer introduced reforms – De facto British protectorate Made official in 1914 Independence came in 1922

Cape-to-Cairo Railway: Crossing over Victoria Falls

The Zulus In the early 1800s in southern Africa, an African leader named Shaka conquered and united tribes to form the Zulu nation. Zulu Nation Cape Town Cape Colony Shaka Zulu

The Zulus The Zulus were skilled and organized fighters. Shaka used his power and fought against European slave traders and ivory hunters.

The Zulus Zulu Nation The Zulus also fought the Boers as they migrated north from Cape Colony. Cape Town Cape Colony Boers

The Anglo-Zulu War The Zulus came into conflict with the British as well. In 1879 the Zulus wiped out a British force at the battle of Isandlwana.

However, it was not long before the superior weaponry of the British overtook the Zulus at the battle of Rorke’s Drift. The Anglo-Zulu War

Cape Colony In the mid-1600s, Dutch farmers known as Boers settled in southern Africa in Cape Colony. The Boers built Cape Town as a supply station. In the 1700s, the Dutch herders and ivory hunters began to move north. The British then acquired Cape Colony in the early 1800s. The Boers Cape Town Cape Colony Boers AFRICA

In the late 1800s, the discovery of gold and diamonds in the northern Boer territory set off the Anglo-Boer war. The war was from and involved bitter guerrilla fighting. The British won, but at a great cost. The Anglo-Boer War British Boers

British Boers

European Territory AFRICA Cape Town Cape Colony In 1910, with southern Africa secure, the British established the Republic of South Africa and instituted apartheid. Apartheid – government policy calling for separation of the races. South Africa

France was very powerful in North Africa, and later spread into West and Central Africa. The territory France controlled was as large as the United States. French Territory

The newly formed German empire had to fight many battles against African natives to take lands in the southern half of Africa. German Territory Germany would lose its colonial territories after its loss in World War I.

The Italians crossed the Mediterranean and conquered Libya. They then took Somaliland in the horn of Africa, but were beaten badly by the Ethiopians. Italian Territory

King Leopold and other wealthy Belgians exploited the riches of the Congo, and brutalized the natives. Many Africans were enslaved, beaten, and killed. Belgium Territory

Although the leaders of the old imperialism, the African claims of the Portuguese and Spanish were minimal. Portuguese Territory Spanish Territory

After the slave trade was outlawed, abolitionists in the United States promoted the idea of returning freed slaves to Africa. Independent Africans In the early 1800s, President Monroe helped free slaves settle in Liberia. The former slaves named the capital city Monrovia in his honor. President Monroe

Liberia

Independent Africans The Ethiopians kept their freedom through a successful military resistance. Emperor Menelik II modernized the army, along with roads, bridges, and schools. When the Italians invaded they were defeated so badly by Menelik that no other Europeans tried to take Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Menelik

Responses of Africans to Imperialism Some tried to play off imperial powers Some tried to negotiate to preserve as much independence and power as possible Various groups and individuals willingly cooperated with colonial authorities to their own advantage Some resisted o Primary resistance o Secondary resistance

Africans rebelled against European rule, but were defeated due to advanced European weaponry

 Most Resistance was unsuccessful Superior European technology Alliances failed  Maji- Maji Rebellion 1905 Germans in East Africa squash spiritual uprising (26,000 killed)

Positive ResultsNegative Results 1. Unified national states created1. Encouraged tribal wars by creating artificial borders 2. Improved medical care, sanitation, and nutrition 2. Created population explosion  famine 3. Increased agricultural production3. Produced cash crops needed by Europeans, and not food for Africans 4. Improved transportation and communication facilities 4. Exploited natural resources: minerals, lumber, rubber, human rights. 5. Expanded educational opportunities 5. Downgraded traditional African culture  westernization

Africa remained under the control of European imperialists from the 1880s until the 1950s & 1960s

BritainFranceGermanyBelgium Home Area (Square Miles) 94,000212,600210,00011,800 Home Population (Millions) Global Colonial Area (Millions of Sq. Miles) Global Colonial Population (Millions) European Imperialism by 1914

RegionPercentage Colonized Australia100% Africa90.4% Asia56.5% Americas27.2% European Imperialism by 1914