– In the 1870’s, Belgium established a presence in the
Congo River Basin which result in a scramble by
other European powers to claim land in much of
Africa.
Berlin Conference
What movement of
people is the image
on the right
showing?
What is the difference between the African
coastline and the coastline of Britain?
Africa Before Imperialism
• Industrialization
had not occurred
in Africa
– Regular coastline
made it difficult
for African
nations to
compete in world
trade
Africa Before Imperialism
• Lack of Unity in
Africa
– Africa was divided into
hundreds of ethnic
groups
– 1,000 different
languages spoken
• Ranged from large
empires to
independent towns
• Large trade networks
existed in Africa
Africa Before Imperialism
• Slave Trade had
attracted
Europeans to
West Africa in
the 1500’s-1600’s
– By the late
1800’s, must
European
countries and
United States
had end slavery
Africa Before Imperialism
• Geographic barriers
had limited European
colonization of
Africa
– Inland travel was
difficult
•
•
•
•
Sahara Desert
Highlands,
steep cliffs
Europeans could not
navigate rivers
– Many waterfalls and
rapids
– Presence of diseases
Tools of
European
Imperialism
in Africa
Quinine
Drug that was
developed to protect
against Malaria
Steamships
Allowed Europeans to
travel up rivers
Superior
Military
technology
Small European forces
could defeat much
larger numbers of
Africans
Improved
Communications
Maintain close contact
between colony and
controlling nation
European Interest in Africa
• Missionaries and
anti-slavery groups
traveled into
interior Africa
– Dr. David
Livingstone
traveled to the
Congo
• Disappeared for
several years
• Newspaper reporter
Henry Stanley sent
to find him
• Story increased
European Interest in Africa
• King Leopold II of
Belgium negotiated
with tribal leaders to
gain control of land in
the Congo in 1872
– Rich supplies of rubber
and other natural
resources
– Belgian companies
abused and forced
local people to collect
rubber
Points of Discussion
• What was the purpose of the Berlin
Conference?
• What was the impact of the Berlin
Conference on Africa?
– After the Berlin Conference, European countries
rushed to colonize Africa.
– As they divided up Africa, they paid little attention to
traditional tribal boundaries
– Scramble, Atrocities
– Identify two primary factors that motivated
European interest in Africa?
European Interest in Africa
• Belgian presence
in Congo
increased
interest of other
European nations
• Attracted by
large supply of
natural resources
– diamonds, gold,
oil, copper, tin,
rubber
The Berlin Conference
• Meeting held in 1884 to
divide up Africa among
the European powers
• Did not consider impact
on Africans
– African leaders not
included in the
conference
• Placed most of Africa
under European control
The Berlin Conference
• Meeting held in 1884 to
divide up Africa among
the European powers
• Did not consider impact
on Africans
– African leaders not
included in the
conference
• Placed most of Africa
under European control
The Berlin Conference
• Failed to consider
traditional African
ethnic boundaries
Divides
Africa
between
European
Powers
Berlin
Conference
Ignores
traditional
African
ethnic
boundaries
African
nations
eventually
gain
independence
in 2nd half
of 20th
century
Conflicts
and Civil
Wars
Imperial Management Methods
Indirect Control
• Local government
officials used
• Limited self-rule
• Government institutions
are based on European
styles but may have
some local rules
Direct Control
• Foreign officials
brought in to rule
• No self-rule
• Government institutions
are based only on
European styles
Points of Discussion
• What was one long lasting effect of the
Berlin Conference?
• What impact did European imperialism
in Africa have on Africans?
– Some Africans, such as the Zulu, attempted to resist
the European attempts to exert control over lands in
Africa
– Ultimately, most of these attempts failed because of
advanced weaponry.
– Annex, Boer War
– What was the purpose of the Berlin
Conference?
Divides
Africa
between
European
Powers
Berlin
Conference
Ignores
traditional
African
ethnic
boundaries
African
nations
eventually
gain
independence
in 2nd half
of 20th
century
Conflicts
and Civil
Wars
British Interests in Africa
• Suez Canal
– Egypt built a canal
connecting the
Mediterranean with
the Red Sea
• Reduced time to
travel from Europe
to the Indian Ocean
– Egyptian government
was unstable
• Britain made Egypt a
protectorate to
protect their
interests in the canal
British Interests in Africa
• Cecil Rhodes
– Supporter of British
imperialism in Africa
– Started the DeBeers
Diamond company
– Used money and
influence to help
Britain colonize
Africa
• Rhodesia
– Today known as
Zimbabwe and
Zambia
African Resistance
• Shaka Zulu created the
Zulu nation in Southern
Africa
• resisted attempts by
Europeans to colonize
southern Africa
– The Boers
• Dutch farmers in southern
Africa
– The British
• British defeated Zulu
resistance with superior
military technology
(1879)
African Resistance
• Most attempts
to resist
European
imperialism
failed
• Exceptions:
– Ethiopians
defeated
Italians &
stayed
independent
The Boer War
• War fought
between Boers
(Dutch farmers)
and British in
Southern Africa
– 1899-1902
• British won war
– Established the
Union of South
Africa
Points of Discussion
• What impact did European imperialism
in Africa have on Africans?
• Why were attempts by Africans to
resist European imperialism
unsuccessful?