Imperialism in Africa 1880s-1917

World Known by Europeans in 1300’s

 Age of Exploration – 1400s- 1500s –explorers looked for spices/faster sea route to India and Asia –only interested in exploring Africa and trading

The Age of European Imperialism In Africa

How were they able to take over?  advanced weapons –Maxim Gun (machine gun)  divide & conquer strategy

Economic Motives  need for raw materials to produce manufactured goods  needed markets to sell their goods

Political Motives  nationalism  more colonies = more power

Cultural Motives  spread Christianity –used missionaries  spread Western values –“we are the best” attitude

Berlin Conference (1884)  Europeans divided up Africa  no Africans invited  boundaries drawn by Europeans without considering Africans –Many different ethnic and religious groups forced together (conflicts) –groups who got along were separated

Political Effects  Traditional African govt. GONE –consensus  Direct Rule: colonial power controlled govt. at every level –France, Portugal, Germany, Belgium  Indirect Rule: left traditional African rulers in place –elite class created to carry out European rule (more conflict among Africans)

Economic Effects  traditional African economy destroyed –based on barter/trade –subsistence farming –no longer SELF- SUFFICIENT  dependent on Europeans for jobs and goods under European rule, need cash to buy things  cash crops grown, not food crops

Cultural Effects  money economy –Men left home to make $ as miners, farm workers, to build railroads… –villages & families separated  land now property of individuals not community