The document discusses the colonization of Africa by European powers between the 1500s-1800s. It led to the partitioning of Africa at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, dividing the continent among European nations. This had both positive and negative impacts. Positively, it ended tribal warfare and introduced modern concepts. However, it also economically crippled Africa and left a legacy of oppression by imposing European rule and exploiting African land and resources for European gain.
2. The “Scramble for
Africa” had
originally been
made regardless of
indigenous
(existing) ethnic
diversity.
The boundaries created
by Europeans led to civil
wars
among Africans
-Why would this cause
fighting?
3. Early Africa saw the rise of powerful empires
and city states that became important cultural
centers
From the 1500’s to the
1800’s
Europeans explored
the continent
(missionaries + maps)
Enslaved many Africans
Sent them to other
parts of the world
-Where were they going?
5. Commercial greed, territorial ambition, and political rivalry
fuelled the European take over of Africa. This resulted in
Africa's partition (division of land on the continent) at the
West African Conference in Berlin November, 1884 through
February,1885. The process became known as "The
Scramble for Africa".
This conference would avoid a European
conflict/war that might arise from claims.
The “Scramble for Africa” had the effect of defusing and
displacing tensions between the European powers in Europe.
However, the tradeoffs and alliances could not disguise the
fact that Imperial Germany was on a collision course with
Britain and France resulting in WWI.
-Why is this?
6. Berlin Conference of 1884-1885
The West African Conference in Berlin to divide the African
Continent among the European nations.
8. Industrial
Revolution
Source for
Raw
Materials
Markets for Finished
Goods
European
Nationalism
Missionary
Activity
Military &
Naval Bases
European
Motives
For Colonization
Places to dump
Unwanted/Excess
Population
Social & Economic
Opportunities
Humanitarian
Reasons
Social
Darwinism
EEuurrooppeeaann RRaacciissmm
“White Man’s
Burden”
9. Europe felt depleted of natural resources
needed for industrialization.
Many of the nations had an interest in the
raw materials found in Africa.
Foreign trade increased
Africa has some of the world’s largest
deposits of gold, diamonds, and
copper. Oil is found in western and
central Africa.
17. Positives Negatives
Tribal warfare was ended
by the colonial
administrators. The
European colonial powers
established their law and
order over large areas of
the continent.
Introduced different and
modern ideas of education,
government, and
economics
“the Scramble”
prevented the formation
of a unified national
spirit necessary to start
a new independent
country.
Left a legacy of
oppression and
economically crippled
the regions of Africa.
18. Schools were established and some
African students attended universities
abroad.
The missionaries wrote the languages and made
dictionaries for the many native languages that
had only been passed by oral tradition.
19. By the end of the 19th century Europeans were straddling the
continent with railways and roads. This made it possible to take
control – politically and commercially.
Colonial rulers built
railroads, but the tracks ran
north and south to carry raw
materials to ports.
Few rail lines went into the
interior of the continent.
Positives
Colonial rulers built
railroads.
Negatives
21. Colonial policies turned
Africans into wage earners or
cash-crop farmers.
Hundreds of thousands of
Africans were hired and
trained to operate machines
for getting minerals to surface.
The profits of all trade
and manufacturing was
not invested in Africa.
Money was needed (by
the Africans) to pay taxes
to the colonial rulers.
Many Africans became
economically dependent
on European trade.
Positives
Negatives
24. Political independence did not bring
economic independence.
African countries continued to export agricultural and
mineral products to their former rulers.
There was little money to build
factories. The profits of all
trade and manufacturing were
not invested in Africa – and
most of the profits or benefits
went to Europeans instead of
Africans.
25. Many African countries depended on
a single export crop which was
RISKY
By not DIVERSIFYING a
country leaves itself open
to large LOSSES when the
price of a product falls on
the world market.