The Partition of Africa
North Africa
Sahara Desert and Fertile land along the Mediterranean
Close ties to the Muslim world Early 1800’s, under control of Ottoman
Empire
West Africa
Grasslands Islamic reform movement Usman dan Fodio: Jihad: holy struggle to
revive and purify Islam Forest regions: Asante kingdom: traded
with Europeans and controlled smaller states
East Africa
Islam Port cities: Mombasa and Kilwa Slave ports to the Middle East Ivory and copper exchanged for cloth and
firearms from India
Southern Africa
Shaka united the Zulu nation in early 1800’s
Mass migrations and wars create chaos 1830’s: Zulus vs. Boers
European Contact
Explorers fascinated by African geography: Mungo Park and Richard Burton
Missionaries: Catholic and Protestant sought to convert natives (children in need of guidance) to Christianity
Dr. David Livingstone
Crisscrossed Africa for 30 years Less bias than most Europeans Opposed slave trade End of slave trade would come from
opening up interior to trade and Christianity
King Leopold II of Belgium
Sent Henry Stanley to explore Congo River basin “civilizing mission” Dreamed of conquest and profit Exploited riches of the Congo Belgian overseers brutalizing villagers Forced to work for almost nothing, savagely
beaten and mutilated International outraged forced Leopold to turn
control of Congo over to Belgian Gov’t
Berlin Conference 1884
European countries arguing over land To avoid bloodshed, met in Berlin to divide up
Africa No Africans present at Conference No European power could claim a part of Africa
unless they set up a government office in the area.
20 years later, European powers partitioned almost the entire continent
European’s Spoils
France: Mediterranean and N. Africa, empire was as large as continental United States at its height
Britain: smaller and more scattered than France, but included more heavily populated regions
Portuguese: Angola and Mozambique Italy: Libya and horn of Africa Germany: eastern and southwestern
The Africans Strike Back
Armed resistance across the continent Ethiopia was one of the only areas in
Africa (besides Liberia) to successfully hold off the Europeans (Italy)
Age of Imperialism led to the development of a western-educated African Elite
Protectorate
Egyptian nationalists revolted against foreign influence in 1882
Britain made Egypt a protectorate Governor of Egypt was still an official of
the Ottoman government but followed policies dictated by Britian
Protectorate=Puppet government