with the end of the slave trade in africa…how do you think the relationship between europe and...
TRANSCRIPT
With the end of the slave trade in
Africa…how do you think the
relationship between Europe and
Africa would change?
Imperialism in Africa
Industrialization fueled the need for resources
European nations competed for new markets
Many nations looked to Africa for raw materials and as a market for industrial goods
European nations viewed an empire as a measure of greatness
Industrialization leads to a new look at Africa…not for slaves
Hundreds of ethnic groups More than 1000 languages Traditional beliefs, Christianity, and Islam Small villages and large empires
African armies kept Europeans on the coast European travel to the interior of Africa was
difficult – terrain, climate, disease Europeans that did go inland were mostly
missionaries and humanitarians
Africa before the mid-1800s
Late 1860s – Scottish missionary David Livingstone traveled with a group of Africans into Central Africa to promote Christianity
Several years passed, people thought he died
American journalist Henry Stanley found him in 1871, with the famous greeting above
Stanley’s exploration and reporting sparked interest of the Belgium King Leopold II
Stanley was hired to sign treaties with local chiefs along the Congo River valley, giving Belgium control of the land
“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
King Leopold claimed he was in the Congo to end the slave trade and promote Christianity
Reality: brutally exploited Africans to gain personal wealth
10 million Congolese died due the abuses inflicted during Leopold’s rule
Belgium’s African claims sparked other European nations to venture inland Africa
The Belgian Congo
In 1884, fourteen European nations met to create rules for the division of Africa◦ Any European country could claim land in Africa◦ There were no African rulers in attendance
Led to the “Scramble for Africa”
By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia were not claimed by Europe
Scramble for Africa
You will each represent an European nation that is intent on colonizing Africa.
Think about the following: What are your motivations? What is your rationale for taking over? What are the rules of the game?
Your turn to “Scramble”
Recap and Reflection
Look at the maps and see what regions of Africa your nation actually claimed
Look at the traditional ethnic boundaries of Africa – did you think about these?
WHY? Motivations? Rationale?
HOW? Factors that allowed
Europeans to take over
Why and how did it happen?
Desire for raw materials and minerals◦ Gold, diamonds, copper, tin◦ Cash crops: peanuts, palm oil, cocoa, rubber
Feelings of European superiority◦ National pride – empire showed strength◦ Racism – a reflection of Social Darwinism◦ Europeans had the moral right and duty to civilize
Motivations for the “Scramble”
Technological & Scientific Superiority◦ Automatic machine gun◦ Steam engine travel and communication◦ Developed drug quinine to protect from malaria
Size and diversity of Africa◦ Variety of languages and cultures – little unity◦ Wars and rivalries already existed
Factors that promoted Imperialism
“I contend that we are the first race in the
world, and the more of the world we inhabit,
the better it is for the human race…It is our
duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring
more territory and we should keep this one
idea steadily before our eyes that more
territory simply means more of the Anglo-
Saxon race, more of the best, the most
human, most honorable race the world
possesses.” - Cecil Rhodes, England