THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

Unit 7 Day 2

Diamonds are Forever

European Imperialism in Africa

Colonial Presence in Africa - 1914

Guns, Germs, and Steel

Sudan - The Mahdist War

1819 – Muhammad Ali’s forces begin to occupy the Sudan along the southern Nile The Egyptian administration imposed

heavy taxes on the predominantly Islamic (but not Turkish) population and attempted to end the profitable slave trade

1870s – After decades of resentment a cleric, Muhammad Ahmad (1844-1885) began preaching against the Turkish administration, which he believed had broken with Islam, and called for liberation

1881 – Muhammad Ahmad declares himself Mahdi (“Redeemer”) and proclaims jihad against the Egyptian administration

Muhammad Ahmad – The Mahdi

Sudan – The Mahdist War

1881 – Mahdist forces succeeded in establishing an independent state

1882 – British took control of Egypt, began to take notice of the cost of continuing war against Sudanese forces, attempt to evacuate Egyptian troops

1884 – British consul sent General Charles “Chinese” Gordon to the city of Khartoum to coordinate the evacuation

Rather than evacuate, Gordon began to administer the city, provoking Mahdist tribes to rebel

Sudan – The Mahdist War

Feb. 1884 – Jan. 1885 – Mahdist Forces lay siege to Khartoum

British gov., under P.M. William Gladstone, upset with Gordon, delayed in sending reinforcements

Jan. 1885 – Khartoum falls, Gordon is beheaded by attacking forces

Six months later Gladstone’s government falls due to popular outcry

Sudan – The Mahdist War

1896 – eleven years later – British forces sent to the Sudan to “avenge” Gordon’s death

Under General Horatio Kirchener, British troops move methodically up the Nile, supported by artillery, machine guns, gunboats, and newly build railroad supply lines

1898 – British forces massacre 11,000 Muslims at Battle of Omdurman