European Colonization of
Africa
Notes and textbook questions
Imperialism / Colonialism
• When a stronger country extends its rule
over another territory
• Empire- a country (referred to as “mother
country”) and all its possessions
• Colony- a territory under control of another
nation
• Synonyms for colony – protectorate,
territory, commonwealth, dominion
Forms of imperialism
• Economic – extending influence over
another territory for the economic benefit
of the imperialist power (ex. spheres of
influence in China)
• Occupation – direct control through
governing; taking over a land by force and
making it a colony (ex. the Europeans
ruling African colonies)
Effects of imperialism
• Brainstorm a list of effects imperialism
could have on the people who are taken
over.
When did colonization of Africa
occur?
• Later than in other parts of the world.
• This was due to the natural barriers that
limited outside contact with parts of Africa.
Reasons for colonization•
•
•
•
Spread Christianity to Africa (missionaries)
Modernize and “civilize” the people
Gain land and power
Abundance of resources
Map answers – not taken over
• Liberia- U.S. persuaded Europeans not to
take it over. It was founded in the 1800s
for freed former slaves who did not wish to
live in America any longer.
• Ethiopia*- large population of Christians
there, so was not taken over
* Italy did occupy it for a time leading up to
WWII
Map answers – main colonial
powers
• British – primarily in eastern and southern
Africa
• French – primarily in western and central
Africa
Map answers – other colonial
powers
• Germany - had its colonies taken away
after WWI in the Treaty of Versailles –
most went to Britain
• Portugal
• Belgium
• Italy
• Spain
Impact of Berlin Conference
1. 1884-1885
2. Africa was carefully divided up by
European colonial powers.
3. Sometimes ethnic groups were split up
when Europeans drew their boundary lines.
Sometimes different ethnic groups were
made a part of the same colony.
(fill out score slips)
Overcoming natural barriers
• Quinine - medicine to prevent malaria,
helped make colonization possible since
tropical disease was a huge natural
barrier.
• The Scramble – started before the Berlin
Conference, when the various European
countries were racing for land in Africa.
• Missionary – person who spreads the
Christian religion.
Racist attitudes of the time• Social Darwinism- Survival of the fittest
concept applied to people. Led to the
belief that the Europeans were a superior
race.
• The White Man’s Burden-the name of a
poem from the time by Rudyard Kipling,
came to represent the idea that it was the
job of whites, since they were superior, to
conquer other lands so the people there
can be civilized.
Africa with no borders
Map 1 notes
• Countries as we know them did not exist
until recently
• Different African ethnic groups had their
own boundaries in place – Europeans
unaware or not concerned with these
Africa after Berlin Conference
Map 2 notes
• Lines drawn by Europeans as they divided
up who would rule which parts of Africa
Africa Today
• Where did these lines come from?
Map 3 notes
• Many colonial boundaries were used when
countries were formed
• This has caused plenty of problems for the
countries since independence