T HE S CRAMBLE FOR A FRICA Unit 7 Day 2. Diamonds are Forever.
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Transcript of T HE S CRAMBLE FOR A FRICA Unit 7 Day 2. Diamonds are Forever.
Sudan - The Mahdist War
1819 – Muhammad Ali’s forces begin to occupy the Sudan along the southern Nile The Egyptian administration imposed
heavy taxes on the predominantly Islamic (but not Turkish) population and attempted to end the profitable slave trade
1870s – After decades of resentment a cleric, Muhammad Ahmad (1844-1885) began preaching against the Turkish administration, which he believed had broken with Islam, and called for liberation
1881 – Muhammad Ahmad declares himself Mahdi (“Redeemer”) and proclaims jihad against the Egyptian administration
Muhammad Ahmad – The Mahdi
Sudan – The Mahdist War
1881 – Mahdist forces succeeded in establishing an independent state
1882 – British took control of Egypt, began to take notice of the cost of continuing war against Sudanese forces, attempt to evacuate Egyptian troops
1884 – British consul sent General Charles “Chinese” Gordon to the city of Khartoum to coordinate the evacuation
Rather than evacuate, Gordon began to administer the city, provoking Mahdist tribes to rebel
Sudan – The Mahdist War
Feb. 1884 – Jan. 1885 – Mahdist Forces lay siege to Khartoum
British gov., under P.M. William Gladstone, upset with Gordon, delayed in sending reinforcements
Jan. 1885 – Khartoum falls, Gordon is beheaded by attacking forces
Six months later Gladstone’s government falls due to popular outcry
Sudan – The Mahdist War
1896 – eleven years later – British forces sent to the Sudan to “avenge” Gordon’s death
Under General Horatio Kirchener, British troops move methodically up the Nile, supported by artillery, machine guns, gunboats, and newly build railroad supply lines
1898 – British forces massacre 11,000 Muslims at Battle of Omdurman