Colonization of Africa

For thirty years after Otto von Bismarck called the Berlin Conference in 1884 to discuss the division of Africa between European powers, said powers both occupied and colonized Africa. Many different intricate societies who each had different reactions to the Scramble for Africa composed Africa of the era. While a large majority of Africans reacted to the European's presence violently, others relied on religious apple or polite denials to soften the blow of imperialism.

Between the period from 1880 to 1914, European powers went after overseas empires in Africa. The governments and political leaders of the European powers believed that this colonization of the African empires was necessary to maintain their global influence. A second group of people supposed that African colonization was the result of the greedy Capitalists who \only cared for new resources and markets. The third group of people claimed it to be their job to enlighten and educate the uncivilized people of Africa. Although the political leaders of European powers encouraged colonization of African empires to advance their nation’s global influence, others argued that it was only for the profiteering of the Capitalists who sought new

All throughout the world, imperialism was spreading quickly through the nations. More land meant more power, superior nations were looking to take over smaller less powerful ones. When it came to conquering smaller countries, the superior nation had to be able to manage and control it successfully. This idea was first bought forth during the Berlin Conference during the separation of African colonies. It stated that any European country could claim land in Africa; however, they must be able to keep control of their conquered area. Managing some African colonies would prove to be a difficult task for some of the European nations. In fact, Nigeria and Ethiopia would both play a part in the African resistance. In order for the spread of imperialism to work, these European nations would have to create imperial management methods. The Europeans were able to come up with many different forms and management methods of imperialism to use in Africa.

For 300 years, roughly 1500 and 1800, European nations had an unquestionable presence on the west coast of Africa with the main focus on trade, specifically for slaves, gold, and ivory. However, their explorations were limited. This quickly changed as the 1800's came into full swing. European explorers quickly took advantage of the situation, and made their way into the interiors of western and central Africa. By the 1880's Europeans were in a struggle with neighboring countries for control of the continent. This problem was deemed one that needed a solution, and one quickly arose. The solution came in the form of the Berlin Conference. The Berlin Conference was a conference held in Berlin to divide up Africa in a peaceful manner, in order

Between the years 1884 and 1885, the nations of Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands had a series of meetings together in Berlin in order to safeguard their commercial interests in Africa. These meetings are referred to as the Berlin Conference. The 4 major players in the conference were Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Belgium. Germany lost handed their colony of German East Africa to Great Britain after losing World War I. African people were now under control of whoever colonized them. Each colony was used for different purposes, and each Colonizer treated their people with a varied degree of harshness. Compare and Contrast how each European country used and treated the people of their respective colonies.

The history of colonization of Africa dates back to 1800’s where European nations invaded African countries due to factors such as industrial revolution, need for raw materials, and desire to expand territory. Religion played a huge role in African history since some missionaries who came to African countries to spread Christianity were working together with colonialists. The article, “Role of Missionaries in Colonization of Africans” explains how the missionaries perceived Africans and the African culture. It states, “Missionaries came with the attitude that all things European were superior to all things African…. It was their mission to do anything necessary to convert Africans who were viewed as uncivilized and barbaric” cite The view

Have you ever thought about what life would be like with someone doing everything for you? Someone doing the chores, the yard work, all the dirty work for free. That is exactly what the Europeans thought when they saw africa and its people and other resources. Nevertheless the effects of the Europeans colonizing Africa are still seen today.

Society misrepresents Africa as disease ridden, uncivilized, overpopulated and poor. It is generalized as one united nation rather than fifty-four individual states, and is conceived as an inferior nation. European nations deployed a mission of colonization to bring the continent civilization. This paper interprets the link between British colonization of Sub-Saharan Africa and lasting economic problems evident today. The argument of British underdevelopment in Africa draws on studies collected on individual African states as well as the continent as whole, regarding economic growth statistics from before, during and post-colonization. Britain failed to develop African nations, leaving them plagued with social issues following independence. This paper expands on the link between Africa’s colonial roots and international intervention’s impact on contemporary Africa today. Britain’s lack of development, rooted in colonization, is to blame for Africa’s crumbling economy.

Beginning in 1880, there was a growing desire for European countries to expand and control their rule. The only continent at that time that was left uncontrolled and, in the European's eyes uncivilized, was Africa. This was the start of Western Imperialism. All European countries wanted their piece of Africa and to get it, they would let nothing stand in their way. They would change the entire government, religion, market, and behavior of most of the African nation and affect almost every person living there. An account of the impact of Imperialism is given in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. This book shows the changes that occurred in Africa during Imperialism and its affect on the community and the people

Africa, although it is the mother of all the continents and is the origin of humankind, is considered the most misunderstood continent that has gone through centuries of strife and exploitation from other countries all over the world. Since the beginning of slavery in Africa in the medieval times, many changes in Africa have occurred in a social and economic standpoint in relations to other countries and within the native land itself by causing colonialism, which is the process of taking control of another area politically while also using their land. Colonialism has had a negative effect on Africa both socially, politically, and economically and can be fixed with the help of other countries.

European colonization effected Africa negatively, as it resulted in the continent being taken advantage of, people and resources exploited, and their economical standpoint being very low. By looking at Africa’s experience with the Berlin Conference and the effects it had, we can see how greatly the continent was negatively influenced. The Berlin Conference brought King Leopold II into Africa, but the world did not know that it would result in genocide of about 5,000 people in Sierra Leone. Continuing into the 1990’s, four million people were killed in Africa as a result of the wars that the excavation of diamonds caused.

The Europeans became invested in Africa in the start of the 17th Century when the Dutch established a port on the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa to grant their ships extended range to better access the rich Indies. Modern day South Africa, known at the time as Pretoria, was a hotly contested place among the European powers. Initially there was not much to attract Europeans to the area besides its great strategic location. Dutch settlers, also known as Boers, were apt to travel inland and constantly established properties beyond the official borders of their colony. The migration of the Boers often translated to skirmishes with native African tribes. The British also established a colony on the Cape of Good Hope. The Brits sometimes brokered treaties and attempted to keep the Boers and tribes from fighting amongst each other. In the middle of the 19th century Britain controlled the colonies of the Cape and Natal. The British colonies extended from the Cape to the North and around the eastern sea-shore, nearly to Portuguese Mozambique. The Boers occupied two interior colonies: The Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The African tribes were positioned in between all of the colonies.

Colonialism is an historic process which happened in different parts of Africa, such as Ghana, The Gambia, Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria. This process exploited African valuables and its economic benefits. Due to colonialism’s obstruction to African progress and development, the continent continues to face serious economic challenges. The detrimental impact of colonial policies and practices on Africa was assisted by the depopulation and devastation to African societies caused by the transatlantic slave trade.

Outlined by this quote, that although in terms of times colonialism is a small section of African history, it has left an imprint throughout the continent. This essay will look at how influential colonisation is in contemporary Africa, there are two main groups of scholars who argue how influential colonialism was in Africa the first is outlined by Gann and Duigan and they hold the view that the colonial era was ‘the most decisive for the future of Africa’. The alternative school of thought is held by British scholar A.G. Hopkins, who believed that colonial rule was less influential than first thought and was more an event which speeded up a process which was already underway. To assess how much of an impact colonialism had on

The professor Ali Mazrui, imaginatively titled one of his journal articles “ Africa Between the Baobab Tree and the Owl of Minerva: A Post Colonial Narrative of Memory and Learning”. The choice that Mazrui made in this title is particularly interesting; by juxtaposing two symbols, that are respectively associated with African and European cultures, he acknowledges the profound impact that Europe has left after colonization. It is true, that it is hard to glance past Africa’s colonial past, even to this day Africa tends to be seen as a foil to Europe like Chinua Achebe brilliantly stated. Despite gaining independence almost sixty years ago , most African states still seem to hold scars from their colonial past. Although colonialism lasted for only a century (which is a relatively short period of time in history), it was so intense and altering that it impacted the continent in a lasting way. Thus, it is important to determine in what ways and in which domains was the impact the most profound. Well, most African states seem to struggle in two main arenas: politics and economy. Though, colonialism affected other aspects of the African life, like on the social and cultural grounds for instance; one could argue that social colonial legacies seem to unfold from the political and economical ones, we can also further argue that the cultural legacies thought existent did not really hinder or annihilate African culture.