1. Chapter 27
The Age of Imperialism

2. Section 1 “The Scramble for Africa”
Ignoring the claims of ethnic African groups, kingdoms, and city-states, Europeans establish colonies

3. Why Europeans were not interested in Africa until 19th c.
Europeans considered Africa Dark Continent.
So many geographical barriers e.g. thick forests.
Tropical diseases such as Malaria.
Transportation difficulties e.g. couldn’t use horses due to Tse Tse flies.
Scientific discoveries made it easy to live in Africa (see picture)
Explorations also made Africa known to the world
This led to the scramble for Africa
Cinchona tree. Scientists discovered quinine, the cure for Malaria from this tree. 3

4. Africa Before European Domination
Problems Discourage Exploration
Armies, rivers, and disease
Nations Compete for Overseas Empires
Imperialism-seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country
Missionaries, explorers, humanitarians reach interior of Africa

5. Dark Continent Revealed
Adventurous explorers & geographic societies sought to uncover the mysteries of inner Africa,
esp. the course of the main rivers
curious about what mineral wealth may lie inside Africa
David Livingstone (Scot) doctor, missionary
explored southern and central Africa
Zambezi R…Victoria Falls…Congo River
David Stanley (Am) journalist went in search of Livingstone when lost touch
explored Nile, Congo
claimed Congo for Belgium (King Leopold II)
David Livingstone
Henry Stanley 5

6. European Explorations in mid-19c: “The Scramble for Africa”

7. “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”7

8. King Leopold The Congo Sparks Interest
Henry Stanley helps King Leopold II of Belgium acquire land in Congo
Leopold brutally exploits Africans; millions die
Belgian government takes colony away from Leopold
Much of England begins to claim parts of Africa
King Leopold

9. Mutilated People in the Congo Free State

10. King Leopold II, Belgium & the Congo
Stanley used a combination of promises, threats and trickery when meeting a new chief,
attached a buzzer to his hand which was linked to a battery
When the chief shook hands with Stanley he got a mild electric shock. This device convinced the chiefs that Stanley had superhuman powers.
The agreements allowed the Belgians into the Congo to take its rich natural resources. 
Henry Stanley 10

11. Forces Driving Imperialism
Belief in European Superiority
Race for colonies grows out of national pride
Racism-belief that one nation is better than others
Social Darwinism-natural selection applied to human society

12. Factors Promoting Imperialism in Africa
Technological inventions like steam engine, Maxim gun help conquest
Within Africa, Africans are divided by culture and language

14. The Division of Africa Lure of Wealth
Discovery of gold and diamonds increases interest in colonization

15. Berlin Conference & the Scramble for Africa
Called by Otto von Bismarck
Br, Fr, Ger, It, Bel, Port meet (Africa absent)
Western powers lay the rules for dividing up Africa
Ignored traditional tribal boundaries …would create problems later 15

16. Berlin Conference Divides Africa
Fourteen nations agree on rules for division
Countries must claim land and prove ability to control it
By 1914, only Ethiopia and Liberia are free of European control

17. Berlin Conference of
Another point of view? 

18. Berlin Conference of

19. Demand for Raw Materials Shapes Colonies
Raw materials are greatest source of wealth in Africa
Businesses develop cash-crop plantations
Peanuts
Palm oil
Cocoa
rubber

20. Harvesting Rubber

21. Three Groups Clash over South Africa
Shaka-Zulu chief-creates centralized state around 1816
British defeat Zulus and gain control of Zulu nation in 1887
Zulu king Cetshwayo

22. Shaka Zulu (1785 – 1828)

23. Zulu War, 1879 23

24. Boers and British Settle in the Cape
The first Europeans to settle South Africa were the Dutch. They later became known as the Boers (also called Afrikaners).
British control of South Africa caused a clash between the Boers and British.
Boers move north on the Great Trek, but clash with Zulus

25. The Boer Wars
After the discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa, the Boers tried to keep outsiders coming into South Africa from gaining political rights.
The First Boer War was briefly fought in and successfully kept the British from annexing Boer territory called Transvaal (in orange).

26. The Great Trek,
Afrikaners

27. Diamond Mines
Raw Diamonds

28. The Boer War Between the Boers and the British Begins in 1899
British win
Boer republics united in Union of South Africa (1910)

29. A Future British Prime Minister
British Boer War Correspondent, Winston Churchill

30. Scramble for Africa Consequences Traditional way of life disrupted
Pastoral and warrior traditions
Grazing lands depleted
Most Africans were little affected until Christianity went against traditions  Islam gains grounds
Economic exploitation of Africans
Africans saw Europeans as rivals for profits
Resistance movements failed
European racism imported into Africa
Spread of European culture
Christian mission school educate African children
Spread of Western technology
Guns change warfare (violence increases, greater devastation)
Rise of African Nationalism 30