Mapping African History 1880-1920
Location: Africa
HIGH SCHOOL
Time Period: 1800-1899; 1900-1999
Grades: 8-12
Essential Question: How do maps illustrate historic change?
Objectives:
Note the changes in maps over historic time
Appreciate external factors that led to the change in maps
Understand the impact of bias on map creation
Curriculum Standards:
World History II: The Rise of the Nation State to the Present
Industrial Revolution and Social and Political Change in Europe, 1800-1914
WH1II.11 Describe the causes of 19th century European Imperialism
WHII.15 Major developments African History in the 19th and 20th centuries
High School
Teacher Sheet
Overview
Maps are an excellent way to learn about history. As primary sources, these visual
documents convey bias and perspective as well as concrete information about specific
geographic locations. Changes in representation over time reflect both substantive
acquisition of knowledge as well as direct representation of territorial power and
influence. The adage that one picture is worth a thousand words is central to appreciating
the value of maps to both contemporaries and students of the past.
Procedure
1. Review with students the bias inherent in all maps, based on both information
available and goals of the cartographer.
2. Discuss why maps change over time.
3. Provide students with 3 maps of Africa from Materials section
4. Briefly review both the Conference of Berlin in 1884 and the Mandate System put
into place per the terms of the Treaty of Versailles after World War One.
5. Give out Student Sheet, and allow time to complete.
6. Discuss responses.
Time Allocation: One class period
Variation on the Activity:
Have students select another map from Maps in the New Darfur,
http://maps.bpl.org/darfur to compare with the three listed here.
Materials
European Possessions in Africa, 1884, http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612004/
Partition of Africa, 1911, http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612008/
Map of Africa after World War One, http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612013/
For more information on the Berlin Conference of 1884, InfoPlease:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0807197.html
For more information on the Mandate System put into place per the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles after World War One, InfoPlease
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0831495.html
Assessment criteria
Did the student recognize cartographic changes?
Did he/she understand the international politics that led to the changes in the maps?
High School
Student Sheet
Maps change for a great many reasons. As cartographers get new information, they alter
the physical representation of an area. Likewise, changes in circumstance also lead to the
transformation of the appearance of geographic areas. Your teacher will present you with
three maps of Africa. Please look at them closely and answer the following questions.
1. The European powers met in Berlin in 1884-5 to discuss the fate of the African
nations. No African nations were present at this conference yet clearly the people of
Africa would be greatly affected by the decisions made there. Identify as many changes
as you can between European Possessions in Africa, 1884,
http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612004/
Partition of Africa, 1911, http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612008/
a. How do the cartographers note possession?
b. How do the labels given convey more than just territorial ownership?
c. Why do you think the cartographer on Map b noted those holdings
acquired before and after the Berlin Conference?
d. In the legend, there is a distinction between possessions, territories and
spheres of influence. What do you think those distinctions meant?
e. Locate the railroads on the map. How do they convey the real power of
the Europeans?
f. There is an inset map of the Suez Canal on Map b. Why do you think that
was included?
2. At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, the Allies had to determine the fate of the
colonial possessions of Germany and the other defeated powers. Geographic position
and natural resources made these colonies too valuable to be left to their own possible
unstable rule. The Allies established the Mandate System, where one of the victorious
nations would supervise the former colonies until they were deemed fit for independence.
Look at these two maps, Partition of Africa, 1911, http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612008/
Map of Africa after World War One, http://maps.bpl.org/details_M0612013/
g. Identify all the changes between the two maps.
h. Who were the victors in World War One? How does Map c convey this
reality?
i. Map c shows both railroads and caravan routes. Why were both
significant?
For more information on the Berlin Conference of 1884, InfoPlease
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0807197.html
For more information on the Mandate System put into place per the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles after World War One, InfoPlease:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0831495.html