Imperialism in Africa

World Known by Europeans in 1300’s

Age of Exploration – 1400s-1500s– explorers looked for spices/faster sea

route to India– only interested in exploring Africa and

trading

The Age of European Imperialism In Africa

European MotivesEconomic

(ppl earning a living)

–Raw materials

–Competition btwn nations

–New markets

European MotivesPolitical

(gov’t/laws)

–Nationalism–More colonies = more power

Religious–Spread Christianity and Western values

–Used missionaries

Berlin Conference (1884)

Europeans divided up Africa

No Africans invited

Boundaries were drawn–Many different ethnic and religious groups forced together (conflicts)

How were they able to take over?

Advanced weapons–Maxim Gun (machine gun)

Divide & Conquer strategy

Political EffectsTraditional African govt. GONE

Direct Rule: colonial power controlled govt. at every level–France, Portugal, Germany, Belgium

Indirect Rule: left traditional African rulers in place

Economic EffectsTraditional African economy based on barter/trade, subsistence farming; SELF- SUFFICIENT

Money Economy–Cash crops grown, not food crops

–Under European rule, need cash to buy things

–Dependent on Europeans for goods and jobs

Cultural EffectsMoney Economy

–Men left home to make $Miners, farm workers, build railroads

–Villages & families separated

–Land now property of individuals not community

Cultural ChangeElite: small group of people with high social status–Gave up traditional culture, learned European culture & history

–Ability to attend secondary schools in Europe

Acted as a buffer between Europeans and natives

Effects

independence after WWII (1960s) civil wars unstable/corrupt governments reliance on cash crops poverty