The Scramble for Africa

Africa Before European Domination African peoples are divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups. European interaction was limited by: Geography Disease

The Congo Sparked European Interest In Africa Belgium starts the action Leopold II (king) claimed he wanted to help abolish the slave trade in Central Africa Licensed private companies to harvest sap from rubber trees. It does not go well… The Belgian government took control French worried by Belgium taking direct control and they start claiming parts of Northern & Western Africa Other countries follow

Forces Driving Imperialism Industrial Revolution—markets and materials Belief in European Superiority National pride—empire as the measure of national greatness Racism (the superiority of one race over another) expressed in Social Darwinism – People try to apply Darwin’s theory of natural selection to societies. Duty to bring civilization and progress to the “uncivilized”

An advertisement for Pears’ Soap uses a racist message: “The first step towards lightening is through teaching the virtues of cleanliness” the advertisement asserts. “Pears’ Soap is a potent factor in brightening the dark corners of the earth as civilization advances, while amongst the cultured of all nations it holds the highest place—it is the ideal toilet soap.”

Factors Promoting Imperialism in Africa European technological superiority Superior arms Maxim gun Means to control an empire Steam engine, railroads, cables, and steam ships Medical advances-development of quinine (1829) an anti-malaria drug Rival groups within Africa also created disunity/lack of a united opposition to European intervention

Berlin Conference (1884- 85): The Division of Africa Berlin Conference (1884- 85): 14 European nations agreed to lay down rules for the division of Africa. No African ruler was invited to this conference. So what?

The Zulu Kingdom Some new states were created on the edge of an existing empires The Zulu’s had Centralized government Strong unified army (35,000) Fought back effectively when British wanted their territory

Anglo-Zulu War - 1879

Does African Imperialism Work? For Africans Clearly its bad Some ethnic groups are favored over others / assist Europeans to rule Will cause major problems after African independence in the 2nd half of the 20th Century For Europeans Mixed results They Get Natural Resources Markets for industrial produced goods But it is never really profitable Lots of money spent on: Infrastructure (roads, railroads, etc) Subduing indigenous populations Also shines a light on the contradictions of Imperialism Shows Europeans are not as civilized as they saw themselves