The Partition of Africa In the late 1800s, Britain, France, Germany, and other European powers began to compete for African territories. Within about 20 years, the Europeans had carved up the continent and dominated millions of Africans. Although many resisted, Africans could not prevent European conquest of their territory.

“The Dark Continent” Africa was viewed as the “dark continent” by the Europeans. They treated it as if it was there for their own use, rather than a diverse place with political, cultural, ethnic divides

African Exploration Explorers such as Mungo Park, Richard Burton, and David Livingstone began to explore Africa, opening it up for trade and colonization David Livingstone—an African explorer and missionary who hoped to open the African interior to trade and Christianity to end slavery Christian missionaries came in the 1800s to build churches, schools, and clinics. Instead of helping people, they merely degraded African culture and set up more social divisions.

The Great Scramble Begins! In the 1880s, King Leopold II of Belgium sent men on an expedition to arrange trade agreements with African leaders and explore the Congo River Basin.

Abuses in the Belgian Congo “Everywhere I hear the same news of the Congo Free State – rubber and murder, slavery in its worst form”

What Would You Do? You are a European Nation. Belgium has just acquired land ten times the size of the home country, from which it is taking goods and money. France is starting to consider imperializing in Africa, and so is England. You are in competition with these countries to have the best economy and the strongest empire. What would you do?

What Would You Do? Countries such as Great Britain, France, and Germany scramble to claim land in Africa

The Berlin Conference The Goal: To divide land in Africa among European nations and establish rules for colonization so that conflict between nations could be avoided. The Rules: 1. Freedom of trade and navigation 2. Other European nations must be immediately informed of any land claims 3. Country must guarantee “effective occupation” 4. Put an end to the slave trade

“We have engaged in drawing lines upon maps where no white man’s foot has ever trod. We have been giving away mountains and rivers and lakes to each other, only hindered by the small impediment that we never knew exactly where the mountain’s rivers and lakes were.”

The Result: Africa was divided up between European nations with little regard for the existing social/ethnical/religious/political divides.

Tribalism: Feelings of loyalty to individual tribes, and the cause of much war and strife in modern Africa. The lack of regard paid to the existing social, ethnical, and political structures of Africa caused much strife and internal conflict that still continues to this day

Boer: A Dutch descendent living as a colonist in South Africa Zulu Resistance Boer: A Dutch descendent living as a colonist in South Africa Zulu: The Zulu were a south African tribe that placed an emphasis on military organization and skill, as established by their  legendary leader Shaka Zulu. Under Shaka’s rule, the Zulu broadened their land claims throughout southern Africa Boers (Dutch) occupied land in Southern Africa which was later owned by the British. Both ran into resistance from the Zulu. Although the Zulu had some successes, ultimately they could not compete with the Europeans

Boer War (1899-1902) War between Great Britain and the Boers in South Africa over control of rich mining country. Great Britain won and created the Union of South Africa comprised of all the South African colonies.

Cecil Rhodes “Cape to Cairo”: his goal to create a railroad which link British holdings in Africa via a railroad from South Africa to Egypt As Prime Minister of Cape Colony, he expanded British control of Southern Africa. He founded the De Beers Mining Company, eventually controlling 90% of the world’s diamond production.

Lasting Legacies Language Religion Tribalism Politics