Heart Of Darkness

Between the years 1881 and 1914, African territory was being invaded by Europeans during the New Imperialism period. Before Europe’s invasion, Africa consisted of various tribes and had no central government due to this during the mid nineteenth century. Europe attempted to colonize Africa using harsh military force and resulted in the European Scramble for Africa. The European Scramble for Africa caused African leaders to have different reactions such as some wanting to have no conflicts, but peace, surrendering to the Europeans due to fear, and also attempting to fight back against the Europeans.

Christian members in Europe established churches in conquered territories during the nineteenth century. With this Western cultural values were spread. Europe found the option to use imperialism to their advantage when the scramble for Africa occurred. This is when The Berlin West Africa conference occurred regarding the split of Africa into colonies. The country was so behind with the rapid industrialization, that new diffusion of ideas was necessary and sought out by citizens. Colliding of religions also involved new education and new foreign languages. As seen in document five, philanthropy was a key part and wanted “five percent better” through Europe at the time. This showed Africa’s hesitant distinction through the late 1880’s to 1950’s and was portrayed across the globe as a developing reputation. Problems with governments, leaders, and trade reflected onto Africa that also left religious views and questions in the air. Against imperialism, Africa saw no hope in ever regaining independence. Colonial conflict struct, and a self government without the help of other countries was out of the picture. In documents three and nine, a German man and German Social Democratic party address how Africa is beginning to look like Europe and how markets within Africa are no longer relevant “to new markets which each country tries to usurp to itself”. These documents showed how after many

Analyze attitudes toward and evaluate the motivations behind the European acquisition of African colonies in the period 1880 to 1914

The ‘scramble for Africa’ was a phenomenon in the world between the years 1880-1914. The ‘dark continent’ was relatively untouched by Europeans up until this point, with few ports of control on the coasts in the west, which were remnants of the slave trade, and in the south, Britain held the Cape, taken from the Dutch during the French Revolutionary Wars. So, during a period of 30 years, it came to pass that almost the whole of Africa was taken by Europeans. (Except Liberia a colony for freed American slaves, and Abyssinia managed to hold out against Italian aggression). It will be my objective in this essay to analyse the economic factors which resulted in the almost complete colonisation and takeover of Africa, and also to determine to

“African Perspectives on Colonialism” is a book written by A. Adu Boahen. This book classifies the African responses to European colonialism in the 19th century. Boahen begins with the status of Africa in the last quarter of the 19th century and follows through the first years of African independence. This book deals with a twenty year time period between 1880 and 1900. Boahen talks about when Africa was seized and occupied by the Imperial Powers of Europe. Eurocentric points of view dominated the study of this era but Boahen gives us the African perspective. There are always two sides of the story and Boehen tells us the side less talked about informing us of what he knows.

The European colonization of Africa, also known as the Scramble for Africa, Partition of Africa, or Conquest of Africa, occurred between the 1870s and 1900s, and was the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of African territory by European powers during a period of New Imperialism. European control of the continent increased from 10 percent (1870) to 90 percent (1914), with only three territories, Saguia el-Hamra, which was later integrated into Spanish Sahara, Ethiopia and Liberia remaining independent of Europe’s control. There were many reasons for the European colonization of Africa, including economic and political motives, with the Berlin Conference serving as a catalyst. Africans resisted the European invasions of their lands, with the two main methods of opposition were guerilla warfare and direct military engagement. European influence on Africa still remains today, though these influences are generally negative and hurt Africa’s overall development.

For centuries, European nations had been trading slaves, gold, ivory, and more with the west coast of Africa. Throughout the early 1800s, Europeans barely knew anything about the rest of the country of Africa. This quickly changed as Europe grew a sudden interest in exploring the rest of the country and taking advantage of their many valuable resources. Many wonder what motivated Europeans to Imperialize Africa, or extend their country’s power throughout Africa. The driving forces behind European Imperialism in Africa were the strive for ultimate power in Africa between competing countries, the need for money and technological advancements in European civilizations, and the constant attempt for Europeans to spread their cultures throughout

Archibald Philip Primrose, Lord Rosebery, wrote, in his letter to the London Times, that colonies are essential to the nations survival. “Health of mind and body exalt a nation in the competition of the universe” (Document 8). These political leaders believed that colonization was necessary to keep the nation’s global influence.

In the period of 1880 to 1914, positive and negative attitudes ascended throughout the acquisition of African colonies. Some thought that it would reinforce Europe's economy and government, others supposed it would add pressures to Europe; it end up being a benefit to the economy, strengthen the nation and civilizing Africa. Motivations would be up brought upon the vague consideration about this dilemma.

European powers shamelessly exploited the people and resources of Africa in the 19th century. They often tried to justify their actions by using ideology, religion and moralism. After the end of the African slave trade, the development of steam power, and medical discovery, European nations started exploring not only the coast but also the unmapped interior of the continent. In this essay, I will explain the main driving forces behind African Imperialism. The Western europeans countries all competed for land and resources because of their self interest. They sought natural resources, and technology gave them the ability to exploit them. The philosophy of national pride however, was the primary reason. (Main document) (Doc C, D & B)

The Europeans divided the continent amongst each other in a peaceful manner when Otto von Bismarck proposed a conference in Berlin in 1884 and 1885. Technology grew from over the years, for example the repeating rifle, maximum gun, Bessemer process, electric telegraph, and the steam engine (Document C). All this technology help them deprive Africa of its resources, every machine took a certain role to devastate the continent such as manufacturing steel, producing rails, bridges, and tall buildings. This proves how technology took a big part as the Europeans took apart Africa and how imperialism affected it along its way by being divided among different European nations.

During King Leopold’s time he was scrambling for a way to create wealth, but could not dabble in the trade of Africans because of new abolition laws, then he got lucky. In the Berlin Conference held by Otto Von Bismarck, Africa was divided like a cake; pieces were given to European countries. While they had decided that they were “respecting” human rights, it was also believed that Africans needed to be governed. Through this Leopold gained the territory of the Congo, marking the beginning of colonialism, an era of unequal wealth and poverty.

Before the Europeans began to explore Africa, little was known about the continent. However, after some initial exploration of Africa, the Europeans soon realized how economically important this area was, and how much they could profit from it. At the time, European countries had only small colonies in Africa, but after they realized that they could make money from the resources in the inner regions of Africa, they wanted to invade the African regions and assume control. This led to “ the race” and ultimately, the partition of Africa. There were many motives for the Europeans to imperialize Africa. There were humanitarian and religious goals, political goals, military goals, and most importantly, there were economic interests. During the Berlin conference, The European powers decided that they were going to spread the three C’s (Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization) in Africa. To do this, the conference had three aims “ Ensure free trade for all nations throughout the Congo, to ensure free navigation for all countries on the Niger River of West Africa, and agree to set rules by which the Europeans could proceed to divide the rest of the continent.” (Part II: The European Conquest, Pg 11). Later in the document it states that not one African representative was present at the Berlin Conference to discuss Africa's future. The European people tricked themselves into thinking that what they were doing

Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness is both a dramatic tale of an arduous trek into the Belgian Congo at the turn of the twentieth century and a symbolic journey into the deepest recesses of human nature. On a literal level, through Marlow 's narration, Conrad provides a searing indictment of European colonial exploitation inflicted upon African natives. By employing several allegoric symbols this account depicts the futility of the European presence in Africa.

The Berlin Conference was were 14 nations, during 1884-1885, came together and discussed the rules for all the divisions in Africa. They came together because all these countries had in visioned war stirring among themselves. Any of these European countries could claim apart of Africa if they had told the other nations about it first and showing that that country could keep it in control. The Europeans completely disregarded how the African ethnic and linguistic groups were divided and divided themselves among the all of Africa without any thought of these African groups. The conference sealed Africa's fate even though no African leader was invited to the meetings. The only nations that were free from Europeans control in 1914 was Liberia