Imperialism In Africa
Early European Contact
 Began with desire for Gold and Salt in 1400s
 Traded with empires/kingdoms
 Trade was limited by geography to two areas
 North Africa and West Coast
 Europeans COULD NOT travel inland
 Rivers difficult to navigate
 Diseases killed them!
 Slaves become important over time, especially as
“New World” colonies were established
Industrial Revolution
 Power changed in 1800s with “industrial revolution”
 Europe wanted raw materials
 Competed for colonies around the world
 New technology allowed Europe to take Africa
1. Steam engine (travel inland)
2. Machine gun
3. Communication – Railroads/cables/steamers
4. Medicine! – Could travel into Africa
First European Colony
 Belgium hired an explorer to go into Congo area
 Henry Stanley
 Result = first inland colony in Africa
 Belgium ruled area brutally
 Other Europeans started to compete for their own
colonies in Africa
Berlin Conference (1884)
 Europeans wanted to prevent war over Africa
 Met in Berlin, Germany
 Set rules for dividing up Africa
 No Africans involved in planning
 50 new countries created in Africa
Effects of Colonialism
 Africans lost control of their land and resources
 Millions of Africans died for 3 reasons:
1. Fighting against Europeans
2. New diseases brought by Europeans
 Ex. Small pox
3. Famines causes by growing cash crops for export
 Leaders replaced
 Political problems still persist today
 Examples: Rwanda, Congo, South Africa, etc.
British in Africa
 Cecil Rhodes, British businessman/politician
 Made fortune from African diamonds
 Established South African Company
 Known as Rhodesia, today Zimbabwe
 Wanted British to control South Africa
 Established a continent-long railroad
 Cape Town (S.A.) to Cairo (E)
British in Africa
 South Africa
 Dutch first settled on Cape of Good Hope
 Fought against Zulu
 British moved in 1815, Dutch forced north
 Gold discovered 1886, British moved in
 The Boer War (1899-1902)
 British vs. Dutch over South Africa
 British won, established Union of South Africa
British in Africa
 How did the British take Egypt?
 Answer = Suez Canal
 Suez Canal built by Egyptians/French (1869)
 British bought partial ownership
 Egypt nearly bankrupt from cost of canal
 British & French took over financial control of Egypt
 1882, Egyptians rebelled and French left
 British took over control
African Resistance
 Resistance mostly unsuccessful
 Exception = Ethiopia
 Leader = Menelik II
 Played European powers against each other
 Built up a modern arsenal
 Purchased from France and Russia
 Went to war with Italy and won!
Effects of Imperialism
Positive Results
Negative Results
1. Unified national states created
1. Encouraged tribal wars by creating
artificial borders
2. Improved medical care, sanitation,
and nutrition
2. Created population explosion 
famine
3. Increased agricultural production
3. Produced cash crops needed by
Europeans, and not food for
Africans
4. Improved transportation and
communication facilities
4. Exploited natural resources:
minerals, lumber, rubber, human
rights.
5. Expanded educational
opportunities
5. Downgraded traditional African
culture  westernization