1. The Scramble for Africa

2. Setting the Stage
Industrialization fueled interest of European countries
Africa = raw materials.
Colonial powers seized vast area of Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Imperialism

3. Africa Before European Domination
African peoples were divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups.
European travel was hindered by difficult rivers and malaria.

5. The Congo Sparked Interest
Leopold II (king) claimed that his involvement in Africa was to abolish the slave trade.
He licensed private companies to harvest sap from rubber trees.
Millions of people from the Congo died (why?)
The Belgian government took control
French were alarmed by Belgium taking over and began claiming parts of Northern & Western Africa
Soon other countries followed

9. Forces Driving Imperialism
Industrial Revolution—search for new markets and raw materials
Belief in European Superiority
National pride—empire as the measure of national greatness
Racism (the superiority of one race over another) expressed in
Social Darwinism -- applied Darwin’s theory of natural selection to society.
Duty to bring civilization and progress to the “uncivilized”

10. Factors Promoting Imperialism in Africa
European technological superiority
Superior arms—Maxim gun
Means to control an empire
Steam engine, railroads, cables, and steam ships
Medical advances-development of quinine, an anti-malaria drug, in 1829.
Rival groups within Africa creates disunity

14. The Division of Africa
Diamonds and gold were discovered in South Africa.
Berlin Conference ( ): European nations agreed to lay down rules for the division of Africa.
No African ruler was invited to this conference.
So what?

17. The Zulu Kingdom New state created on the edge of an existing empire
Centralized government
Army
Created conflict when British wanted more territory

18. Anglo-Zulu War