Imperialism in Africa and AsiaThe European Battle for Territory

DO NOWIn your notebook, list as many adjectives

(descriptive words) that come to mind when you hear “Africa”

Geography of Africa• Continent – not a country

• Continent is three times larger than Europe

• Northern Africa – mostly desert

• Mid-to-southern Africa – diverse climates and topography

Africa Before Europeans

• Nations ranged from large empires to independent villages

• Hundreds of ethnic groups• Africans controlled their own trade networks• Many followed Islam or Christianity

What is “Imperialism”?• Imperialism: the seizure (takeover) of a

country or territory by a stronger country

• European countries had complete control over their colonies– Politics– Economics– Society– Culture

Imperialism in Africa Video

Who Went?• Explorers seeking wealth and notoriety • Missionaries trying to convert Africans to

Christianity• Humanitarians felt they needed to civilize the

savage Africans– “White Man’s Burden”

Forces Driving Imperialism• Belief in European superiority

– Racism– Social Darwinism

• European advantages:– Technological superiority– Means to control populations (ex: weapons)– New medicines prevented diseases

IndustrialRevolution

Source forRawMaterials

Markets forFinishedGoods

EuropeanNationalism

MissionaryActivity

Military& NavalBases

EuropeanMotivesFor Colonization

Places toDumpUnwanted/Excess Popul.

Soc. & Eco.Opportunities

HumanitarianReasons

EuropeanRacism

SocialDarwinism

Forms of Colonial ControlForms of Imperialism Characteristics

Colony Country governed internally by a foreign power

Protectorate Country with its own internal government but under the control of an outside power

Sphere of Influence Area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges

Means of Control

Indirect Rule• Local officials were used• Limited self-rule• Goal to develop future

leaders• Govt’s based on European

styles, but may have local rulers

Direct Rule• Foreign officials brought into

rule• No self-rule• Gold assimilation• Govt’s institutions based

only on European styles

Activity: Foreign Views• You will be reading three different foreign

perspectives on why Europe should be imperialist.

• Read these and answer the analysis questions. Your answers will come right from the documents!

The Scramble for Africa

• 1882- King Leopold II of Belgium claims the Congo

• Other European countries start to worry they won’t get any land– 1914: Only Liberia and

Ethiopia were free from Europe

The Berlin Conference

• 1884: Europeans leaders divide Africa– No African rulers

invited– Little or no thought

about the differences in ethnic groups

DO NOW

According to this cartoon, which European countries were fighting for a position in Africa?

How did the Berlin Conference lead to the situation shown in the cartoon?

Berlin Conference in Plain English

(Murdoch-1959)

1. Africans• Zulu nation, led by

Shaka• Fought the British

2. Boers• Dutch• Had controlled South

Africa since mid 1600s3. British

• Gained control of South Africa after the Berlin Conference

Late 1800s: discovery of gold and diamonds in Boer territory set off the Anglo-Boer War

1901: British won, but at great cost

The Anglo-Boer War

British Boers

• King Leopold and other Belgians exploited the riches of the Congo

• Brutalized the natives. Many Africans were enslaved, beaten, and killed.

Belgium Territory

• Very powerful in North Africa

• Later spread into West and Central Africa

• Territory France controlled as large as the United States

French Territory

• Second in size only to France

• Many natural resources

British Territory

• Fought battles against African natives to take lands in the southern half of Africa

• Lost colonies after WWI

German Territory

• Conquered Libya

• Took Somaliland, but later lost it to Ethiopians

Italian Territory

• African claims of the Portuguese and Spanish were minimal

Portuguese Territory

Spanish Territory

Positive Results Negative Results

1. National states created 1. Encouraged tribal wars by creating fake borders

2. Improved medical care, sanitation, and nutrition

2. Created population explosion famine

3. Increased agricultural production 3. Produced cash crops needed by Europeans, and not food for Africans

4. Improved transportation and communication facilities

4. Exploited natural resources: minerals, lumber, rubber, human rights.

5. Expanded educational opportunities

5. Downgraded traditional African culture westernization

British Imperialism in India

British Imperialism in India• East India Company

– Controls India through economic imperialism

– Company uses an army including Indian soldiers known as “sepoys”

• India seen as the most important colony– Known as the “Jewel in the Crown”– Produces lots of raw materials

The Sepoy Rebellion• Indians Rebel

– Sepoys refuse to use ammo cartridges due to religious reasons

• They had to bite them open – greased with pork fat • Considered unclean by Muslims

– Many sepoys were jailed, others rebelled– British put down the rebellion

• Results– Britain takes direct control of India– Increased distrust between Indians and British

Effects of British Rule• British control political and economic power• Railroads move cash crops and goods faster• Cash crops resulted in loss of self-sufficiency

and caused famine• Britain sought to “modernize” India• Indian culture is disrupted due to racism and

missionaries

Imperialism in Southeast Asia

Imperialism in Southeast Asia• European Powers invade the “Pacific Rim”

– Lands of Southeast Asia that border the Pacific Ocean

• Why?– Land perfect for establishing trading and military

posts– Excellent for plantation agriculture

Imperialism in Southeast Asia • Results

– Modernization helps the European businesses– Education, health, and sanitation improves– Millions migrate to find work– Racial and religious clashes increase

Imperialism in China

Imperialism in China• China vs. the West

– China was self-sufficient – no need for trade– China kept a favorable balance of trade– Europeans were able to shift the balance

• Sale of Opium – addictive drug from poppy plant

• Opium War (1839-1842)– China vs. Britain– China loses – signs Treaty of Nanjing

• Chinese power over the West ends

China vs. The West• Foreign Influence Grows

– Growing Spheres of Influence• A Surge in Chinese Nationalism

– Boxer Rebellion• Poor peasants and workers who resented foreign

priviledge– Beginnings of Reform

• China tried to become more western• Further added to internal problems

Let’s Review!Imperialism Crash Course Video