Imperialism in Africa
• WHAT IS IMPERIALISM???
• A policy of extending a country's power
and influence through diplomacy or
military force.
Imperialism
• Intense competition for colonies in
Africa
– 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 Tanganyika; 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.
Imperialism
Shaka 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
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.