1. Africa in the Era of Informal Empire

2. Time and Geography

3. Map 37.1

4. POLITICAL

5. Era of Informal Empire Europeans had not penetrated into continent, no permanent settlement Occupied trading stations (factories) African leaders dealt with Europeans on equal basis Minimal, selective contact with Europeans Europeans did not have military advantage

6. Era of Informal Empire Devastating diseases also limited settlement – western coast was “white man’s graveyard” Hot climate, unknown difficult terrain limited European penetration and settlement Travel extremely difficult It was called “white man’s graveyard” because of the inhospitable conditions

7. SOCIAL

8. Slave Trade Slavery was ancient institution taking many forms, fueled by war, poverty Berber, Arab Muslim traders, ran slave trade before Europeans arrived European settlement of Western Hemisphere and use of plantation system created demand for cheap labor – Used native Americans at first, but most died – Africans able to better resist disease European involvement – Portuguese were first, replaced by Dutch – English, French, Danes also involved – English dominated slave trade after 1672 19th-century European engraving of Arab slave-trading caravan transporting African slaves across the Sahara

9. Impact of the Slave Trade in Africa Statistics – Lack of adequate reliable data – Estimates range 8-40 million slaves exported Impact on African populations – Varied regionally – Limited population growth – Some African leaders became partners – Introduced firearms to Africa – major cause of bloodshed – Congo – example of destruction of previously large and stable kingdom

10. Arab slave traders and their captives along the Ruvuma River in Mozambique

11. Map 37.1

12. European Contacts to 1880s Europeans had come to trade, knew almost nothing about African interior African interior

13. European Contacts to 1880s Indifference, ignorance changed gradually – Humanitarian reasons Anti-Slavery Movement and Christian missionaries – Curiosity, desire to explore, especially search for source of Nile River – Profit motive need for new industrial raw materials and markets for finished goods Portuguese missionary efforts to convert African kingdoms to Christianity.

14. POLITICAL

15. North Africa French – Invaded Morocco, Algeria – Agricultural settlements in Algeria – Controlled whole northwestern quarter of Africad Jihad – Invasion by alien religion and culture provoked resistance – Abd al-Qadir – leader of holy men (marabout), led jihad against French for 38 years

16. ECONOMIC

17. West Africa French and British created respective spheres of influence Slave trade replaced by agricultural exports, manufactures imports in monopolistic control of local markets Native Congo Free State laborers who failed to meet rubber collection quotas were often punished by having their hands cut off

18. RELIGIOUS

19. West Africa Continental interior remained unaffected Jihads between Muslims and peoples who clung to their non-Islamic beliefs – Usman dan Fodio – Al-Hajj Umar Tal Usman dan Fodio Al-Hajj Umar Tal

20. Map 37.2

21. ECONOMIC

22. South Africa Capetown settled to supply maritime trade Boers, Dutch farmers – Founded settlements, displaced indigenous peoples – Boer migrants (Trekboers) swept away local people, took their lands – Imported slaves to work farms – Racism came from racial mixing, Coloureds Capetown as it presently looks

23. South Africa Bantu-speaking people – Iron-based, mixed farming – Loosely organized chieftaincies – Military stalemate when they met Boers January 1900 photograph of Boer forces at Spionkop

24. POLITICAL

25. British and the Boers Britain occupied the Cape, Boers resented their efforts to restrict slavery Great Trek – Boers migrated north, drove out local people, defeated the Zulus, set up independent republics Voortrekker wagon crossing a river.

26. British and the Boers New conflicts among Bantu groups caused formation of powerful states organized for war such as Shaka’s Zulus Zulu War – British broke their power Discovery of diamonds and gold made Africa suddenly much more important A Group of Zulu warriors

27. ECONOMIC

28. East Africa Swahili peoples – Cosmopolitan culture, trading networks – City states were commercial Demand for slaves suddenly increased with new plantations Zanzibar Sultanate – Extended control of entire Swahili coast, set up commercial empire – Used many slaves for plantation farming – Trade for slaves, ivory began penetrating into interior

30. Discussion Questions 1.Several European countries scrambled to divide Africa into their colonial empires. Other powerful countries did not participate, however. Why do you think Russia did not join in – what prevented their participation? What about the US – why were there no US colonies in Africa? What elements had to be present in a nation before it would begin to build a colonial empire? Were there any factors which would prevent such action? 2. The Atlantic slave trade had enormous impact on peoples on both sides of the ocean. What social, cultural, economic, and political changes happened in Africa? What changes took place in US and Latin American societies which received those slaves? Which side of the Atlantic do you think changed more? Why?