scramble for africa

1. The Age of
Imperialism
The Scramble for
Africa

2. IMPERIALISM
 What is Imperialism?
 European nation’s attempt and success in colonizing as
many areas in Africa and Asia as possible for the sole
benefit of their home nation.
 The seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country
 In the case of Africa, the European nations dominated all aspects
of the weaker countries including politics, economics and the social
lives of the people.

3. Africa in
1835

4. Africa
in
1914

5. FACTORS PROMOTING
IMPERIALISM
 Technology, new weapons, new steam
ships, railroads.
 Africans susceptible to disease, Europeans
had quinine for malaria.
 Europeans played off African rivalries on
one another and kept them from becoming
unified.

6. THE DIVISION OF AFRICA
 The Berlin Conference of
1884 – Fear of War
 Main purpose
 to lay down rules for the
division of Africa
 14 European countries
 African rulers were not
invited to the conference
 European countries
wanted to establish
colonies because of Raw
materials
 Diamonds, gold, copper,
tin, cash-crops (peanuts,
palm oil, cocoa, rubber)

7. RESISTANCE
Zulu fight the British
o-Shaka the leader of the Zulu formed a well
trained army in an effort to create a bigger state.
o-His successors failed to continue his strengths
and British invaders moved in.
o-The Zulu bravely fought the British using
spears and shields but eventually were defeated
by the British weapons at the battle of Ulundi.
o-By 1887, the Zulu had fallen under British
domination.

8. 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 Zulu then found themselves fighting
the Zulu and other tribes whose lands
they were taking.

9. THE BOER WARS
 When diamond was discovered in the late
1890’s. the British sought to create a
rebellion.
 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
killed over 14,000 Africans were killed
here.
 By 1910, the Boers were defeated and the
union of South Africa was formed under
British rule.

10. THE EFFECTS OF COLONIAL RULE
Negative
 African people lost their land,
their independence, their
cultures and thousands of
lives (due to either disease or
war).
 Division of the continent;
boundaries created by
Europeans posed several
problems that are still
present today.
Positive
 Reduced local wars
 Improved sanitation
 Provided hospitals and
schools
 Increased life expectancy and
literacy rates
 Economic growth
 African products became
valued on the international
market
Although these are all positives,
for the most part, they only
benefited European business
interests.