11.1 Imperialism in Africa

Nations Compete Imperialism = control of a country or territory by a stronger country Africa divided by 100s of ethnic groups that spoke 1000s of languages Late 1880s Europe only controls 10% of Africa European travel into central Africa difficult Rivers too wild Steam powered ships change this

Nations Compete Missionaries and humanitarians only ones travelling in central Africa David Livingstone = missionary No word from Livingstone for several years Henry Stanley (newspaper reporter) hired to find him Finds Livingstone in 1871 – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

Nations Compete Stanley continues exploration of Africa King Leopold of Belgium hires Stanley to obtain land through treaties Leopold claims land used to abolish slavery and spread Christianity Leopold exploits natives & forces collection of rubber sap from trees; 10 million-plus die Belgian government takes colony away from Leopold France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain soon claim land in Africa

Nations Compete Industrial Revolution encourages imperialism More land = better country European pride = ethnocentric Ethnocentrism = belief that your culture is superior to others Ethnocentrism can contribute to racism

Social Darwinism Charles Darwin = scientist with theory of evolution – all living things evolve from previous living things Social Darwinism = application of natural selection to society Some societies have “evolved” and are “better” “Proof” is that some countries are more advanced than others

Moving Into Africa Factors allowing Europeans to explore Africa: Maxim gun (1st machine gun) Steamship engine, railroads, cables Drug quinine protects people from malaria Tribal difference lead to conflict between tribes - prevent unified front against Europe

Divided Africa Diamonds discovered in South Africa Berlin Conference divides Africa Needed to prove country could control claimed land Africans not included in decisions Boer War between British and Dutch Boers = Dutch settlers in South Africa Britain wins first “total war”