The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa
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Britain's empire in Africa developed much later than in India or America. However, Britain
had strong links with different parts of Africa long before the 19th century. It began with
the slave trade in the 1700s. By the later 1800s Britain had taken control of huge
territories in north, central and southern Africa.
Why did the British start by trading in slaves and eventually come to rule vast areas of
African land? Look at the background and the sources in this case study and see what you
can discover about the motives of the British.
Use the Worksheet to record what you find out.
The Background will give you an introduction to the rise of the British empire in Africa.
1. Map of Africa, c.1626
2. Extract on slave trade
to Barbados, 1676
3. Document on British
expansion in Africa, 1749
4. Annual register of
slaves, 1758
5. Book on David
Livingstone, 1871
6. Book on emigration to
South Africa, 1891
7. Complaint against Cecil
Rhodes, 1899
8. Letters about African
mine workers, 1902
9. Activities of British
missionaries, 1831
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Glossary | World Maps
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 1
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
1b
1a
1c
1d
1e
1f
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the source, ask yourself:
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What does the map tell historians about how much British people knew about Africa around the time of 1626?
Is the aim of the map to help people to navigate around Africa?
Why do you think the artist has put figures around the edge of the map?
What information does the map give about the people, places and animals in Africa?
Does this give any clues as to who made the map, why they made it, and who it was for?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s1a.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 1a
Map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
Source 1b
Detail from map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
Source 1c
Detail from map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
Source 1d
Detail from map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
Source 1e
Detail from map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
Source 1f
Detail from map of Africa produced in Britain around 1626
(PRO ref: CO 700 Africa0)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 2
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Extracts from the records of the Royal Africa Company on the supply of slaves to Barbados in 1676
(PRO ref: CO 268/1)
2a
2b
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What are the sugar planters of
Barbados complaining about?
Where do they get their workers
from and why is this issue causing
them a problem?
What is the Royal African
Company doing to upset them?
Does the Company accept the
allegations?
What clues does this source
provide about the treatment of
slaves?
What does the source tell
historians about the importance of
the trade between Britain, the
West Indies and Africa?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British
became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s2a.htm
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 2
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s2a.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 2a
Extracts from the records of the Royal Africa Company on the supply of slaves to Barbados
in 1676
(PRO ref: CO 268/1)
Source 2b
Extracts from the records of the Royal Africa Company on the supply of slaves to Barbados
in 1676
(PRO ref: CO 268/1)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 3
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Royal Africa Company document commenting on British expansion in Africa, 1749
(PRO ref: T 1/337/51)
3a
3b
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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How much has Parliament given
to protect the African trade?
What does this suggest about the
importance of the trade?
What does the Royal Africa
Company want?
Why do you think the forts and
castles are so important?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British
became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s3a.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 3a
Royal Africa Company document commenting on British expansion in Africa, 1749
(PRO ref: T 1/337/51)
Source 3b
Royal Africa Company document commenting on British expansion in Africa, 1749
(PRO ref: T 1/337/51)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 4
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Extract from the Annual Register showing the extent of trading in slaves, 1758
(PRO ref: T 70/1263)
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the source, ask yourself:
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How many slaves were transported in the period shown in this source?
Does this source prove that the slave trade was valuable?
Does this source provide any clues about the slaves and how they were treated?
What clues does this source provide about why the British became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s4.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 4
Extract from the Annual Register showing the extent of trading in slaves
(PRO ref: T 70/1263)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 5
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Title page of a book about the explorer David Livingstone, published in 1871
(The British Library/Heritage-Images)
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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●
●
What is the scene shown in this
image?
What does the source suggest
about public interest in
Livingstone and in Africa?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British
became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s5.htm
Glossary | World Maps
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 6
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Cover from a booklet called 'South African Gold Fields, Emigrant's Guide, published in London in 1891
(The British Library: 'South African Goldfields')
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What is this source trying to sell?
How is the guide trying to get
people to come to South Africa?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British
became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s6.htm
Glossary | World Maps
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 7
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Extract from a complaint in 1899 by white South African settlers against British businessman Cecil Rhodes
(PRO ref: DO 119/552)
7a
7b
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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According to the Afrikaaners, what
deal did Cecil Rhodes put to
them?
Why did they accept?
What do you think Rhodes was
trying to achieve?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British
became involved in Africa? (Use
this source and the information in
the useful notes.)
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s7a.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 7b
Extract from a complaint in 1899 by white South African settlers against British businessman Cecil Rhodes
(PRO ref: DO 119/552)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 8
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Correspondence in 1902 on the recruitment of Africans to work in mines
(PRO ref: DO 119/718)
8a
8b
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What does the De Beers official
want to do?
What is the attitude of De Beers
to Mr Muhlenbeck?
What is the attitude of the British
official to Mr Muhlenbeck?
Does this source suggest he is
concerned for the welfare of the
Africans?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British
became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s8a.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 8a
Extract from a complaint in 1899 by white South African settlers against British
businessman Cecil Rhodes
(PRO ref: DO 119/552)
Source 8b
Correspondence in 1902 on the recruitment of Africans to work in mines
(PRO ref: DO 119/718)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | Africa | Source 9
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Extracts from an 1831 report on the activities of British missionaries in Africa
(PRO ref: CO 48/144/104783)
9b
9a
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in Africa. As you study the source, ask yourself:
●
●
●
What does the source tell historians about the work of the missionaries?
Does the source provide any evidence that the missions were successful or unsuccessful?
What clues does this source provide about why the British became involved in Africa?
Background | Worksheet
Feedback | Credits | Sitemap | Help
http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs2/g1cs2s9a.htm
Glossary | World Maps
Source 9a
Extracts from an 1831 report on the activities of British missionaries in Africa
(PRO ref: CO 48/144/104783)
Source 9b
Extracts from an 1831 report on the activities of British missionaries in Africa
(PRO ref: CO 48/144/104783)