Imperialism in Africa

Imperialism

• Intense competition for colonies– In 1875 European Nations control 10%– By 1900 European Nations control 90%

• How?– New Technology– Medical Knowledge– Maxim Gun

Imperialism

• Europeans competed for land over the entire continent:– French, Italians and British: North Africa– French and Germans: West Africa– Belgians and Germans: Central Africa– Portuguese, Brits and Germans: South Africa– Italians, British, Germans: East Africa

• Conflict ensued between these nations

Berlin Conference 1885

• Conference called to settle land disputes among European nations in Africa.– Called by Bismarck

• Worried about being left out of the Scramble

– Every Corner of Africa divided up.• Between European nations

– No African Groups were invited• Shows feeling of superiority Europeans felt

Exploration

• European nations send out explorers to find out what was in Africa.– Mungo Park: Scottish, Explored the Niger River– Rene Caillie: from France, 1st to cross the Sahara,

searched for Timbuktu– Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke: British,

looked for the source of the Nile– David Livingstone: British Doctor; missionary;

Explored the interior of Africa, treated ill. Named Victoria Falls

MUNGO PARK

RENE CAILLIE

Entering the city of Timbuktu

TIMBUKTU

SIR RICHARD BURTON

John Hanning Speke

Finding Lake Tangayika; Burton being carried; Speke with a cane

BURTON’S TOMB in England resembles a desert tent

Dr. Livingstone

VICTORIA FALLS

DR. LIVINGSTONE I PRESUME?

CARRYING HIS DEAD BODY OUT OF AFRICA

Imperialism

– South Africa: Bitter power struggle developed among local African groups, Dutch settlers and British• Zulu: African tribe that migrated into South

Africa by early 1800’s. Great leader: Shaka• Boers: Dutch settlers in South Africa.

Settled Capetown in 1652. Used locals as slaves.

• British: won control of Cape Town from Boers in early 1800’s.

–Great Trek: Boers retreat north to get away from British.

• 1850’s: Boers set up two independent republics on Zulu land: Orange Free State and the Transvaal.

–The two fought for years.–British helped Boers to defeat

the Zulu.

ImperialismShaka Zulu

Imperialism

• The Mfecane:

–Mfecane "the Crushing“. Events following the rise to power of Shaka who created a militaristic kingdom. He conquered some tribes and forced other tribes to leave the area, opening the way for European settlement.

• Very bloody.

Imperialism

– Discovery of Diamonds and Gold in South Africa• Boer War, 1900: between British and Boers for

control of Boer territory and gold/diamonds.–British won.

• 1908: British create Union of South Africa out of various colonies.

–Granted self government–Only whites could vote. Majority of white

population: Boers. They controlled government.

» Institute Apartheid: separation of races.

Imperialism– Cecil Rhodes:

• British miner looking for gold and diamonds in South Africa

• By 1889 he controlled 90% of the world’s diamond output.

Africa: Colonization

African Decolonization

Imperialism

• Summarization:– European nations desired land in Africa

• For its resources

– The Berlin Conference split up Africa amongst those European nations.

– Colonialism and mistreatment of the Africans followed.

– Groups like the Zulu fought against further European expansion.