the scramble for africa ch 11 section 1. africa before european domination africa was divided into...
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Africa before European domination
• Africa was divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups.
• Europeans had established contact with some African regions south of the Sahara desert as early as 1450, but powerful African armies stopped them taking over. (By 1880, Europe controlled a mere 10% of Africa)
• Africans controlled their own trade systems.• Traditional African beliefs were practiced along with
Christianity and Islam.
Causes of Imperialism• Belief of Europeans in racial superiority
(racism)
• Social Darwinism- the belief that evolution and nature apply to humanity, survival of the fittest applied.
• Need for raw materials (petroleum, ivory, rubber. Gold and diamonds in southern Africa)
• New technology (from industrial revolution)
• Military Strength (i.e. machine gun v spears)
Factors allowing Europeans to overcome the main difficulties of “The Dark Continent”
• Technology, new weapons, new steam ships, railroads.
• Europeans developed quinine as a protection against malaria.
• Europeans played off African rivalries on one another and kept them from becoming unified.
The Division of Africa
• Berlin Conference- in 1884-1885, European nations met to establish rules for the colonization of Africa.– They agree any European nation could take parts
of Africa after notifying other European nations. (no African consent required)
• By 1914 Africa was divided up with only Ethiopia and Liberia remaining free.
• New boundaries did not consider the rights or needs of Africans.
The need for raw materials
• Africans did buy many of Europe’s goods.• The real wealth for the Europeans came from
raw mineral resources found in Africa.• Belgian Congo- tin and copper• South Africa- diamonds and gold• Cash crop plantations such as peanuts, palm oil,
cocoa and rubber replaced food as a source of agricultural production.
• Famine and starvation would soon become a problem.
The clashes in S. Africa• Zulu fight the British-Shaka the leader of the Zulu formed a well
trained army in an effort to create a bigger state.
-The Zulu bravely fought the British using spears and shields but eventually were defeated by the British in July 1879 at the battle of Ulundi.
-By 1887, the Zulu had fallen under British domination.
The Boer Wars
• The Boers were Dutch settlers (farmers) who had arrived in Africa in the 1600’s.
• They built large farms through the 1800’s until the British arrived.
• In the 1830’s, they moved north to escape British rule in what is called The Great Trek.
• The Boers then found themselves fighting the Zulu and other tribes whose lands they were taking. The Boers were ultimately successful and created their own lands
The Boer Wars
• When gold and diamonds were discovered in the areas inhabited by the Boers in 1890’s, the British sought to take the land from them.
• The Boers fought back against the British using guerilla tactics. Britain burned much of the Boer lands in retaliation.
• The British used concentration camps and over 14,000 Africans were killed.
• By 1910, the Boers were defeated and the union of South Africa was formed under British rule.