Colonization & Imperialism

Why Europe? Europe is also known as the “peninsula of peninsulas” which gives the continent excellent access to the sea. This along with a favorable temperate climate and consequently large population set the stage for exploration and expansion. The emphasis on world trade allowed the European economy to industrialize first and therefore have the economic and military lead.

Why did European powers set up colonies around the world? Industrialization created a demand for raw materials An overcrowding Europe was looking for new places to settle. Colonies became the market for finished products made in the mother country (Europe)

Reach of European Colonization Almost every part of the world was colonized by a European power at some point in history Exceptions are Iran, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, Korea and China The Americas were colonized first followed by India and Australia Africa and the Muslim world of the Middle East fell last. Europe's control over the sea made such a far reach possible The sun never set on the British Empire

The Impact of Colonization European culture diffused across the world. It is the reason for why Christianity dominates the Americas and European languages are even used by many African governments. Places that were not settled by Europeans in large numbers retained more of their native culture, but added European components as is the case in Africa and Asia (India is still Hindu, but also speaks English)

The Impact of Colonization continued Economic impacts varied depending on the degree of exploitation and number of European settlers. In some cases, industrialization spread such as in North America, but in others exploitation and enslavement hindered development.

Berlin Conference & the Scramble for Africa In the 19 th century, European powers were invited by the German Kaiser to the Berlin Conference to agree upon how Africa should be divided up amongst them. No African was attended and the colonizers drew hypothetical borders in disregard of local cultures and established ethnic/tribal divisions Enemies were united into the same country and nations divided by the new colonial borders.

Conflict in Africa Today Africa decolonized in the 1950s, but the ignorant borders remain. The source of much modern conflict in Africa can be traced back to those inconsiderate borders.

Conflict in Sudan Created by the British, the country united two opposing religious and ethnic groups. North Sudan is Arab Muslim and south Sudan is Black Christian The country has seen many bloody civil wars including the Darfur genocide in which north Sudanese slaughtered millions of south Sudanese in the transitional lands of the Sahel from 2003 onward Some peace was found when South Sudan finally declared its independence from the Arab North and became the world’s youngest country.

Rwandan Genocide of 1994 in East Africa The Belgians united two rivaling ethnic groups into the same country and put the minority Tutsis in charge. Eventually, the majority Hutu population took their frustration out by mass killing the Tutsis with machetes. Genocide: The systematic mass killing of an ethnic group.

Africa continued Conflict continues (Mali, Central African Republic) especially along the southern edge of the Sahara desert, called the Sahel where northern Arab Muslim clash with Black Christians from tropical Africa. Colonial borders completely ignored this ethnic/cultural divide. The lack of political stability has hindered the continent’s development. Often people align themselves more with their tribe than the superficial country European colonization left them with.

Questions 1. Describe how European colonization has impacted the world. 2. Describe how the political set up of Africa was effected by European colonization. 3. What is a genocide?