CH5 sec. 5.4 The race for Africa

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Memo havo 2 TTO

CH5 Age of citizens and steam engines

Nationalism en imperialism

sec. 5.4 The race for Africa

Learning objectives

Main question: how did the race for Africa transpire?

• You can explain how the conquest of Africa transpired.
• You can recognize and explain what was agreed at the Berlin Conference and how Africa was eventually divided.
• You can explain what the consequences of the conquest were for Africa. 
• You know the terms and dates of this section.
  

The first contacts

• From 16th century: contacts between Europeans and Africa -> trade in slaves and gold. 
• Trading posts on the coasts.
• 19th century: modern imperialism
  
• Combination of political and economical motives.
• Political: sign of strength and power & to gain respect from other countries (nationalism)
  
• Economically: raw materials and markets

The first contacts

• 19th century: expeditions of Europeans to the interior 

of Africa by, among others, Mungo Park.

Journeys of exploration and research to unknown territories.

• They were amazed by Africa culture. For example, large 

cities in present Mali. Arabs in West Africa founded a 

great Islamic kingdom. 

• Besides expeditions and sending missionaries there was 

hardly any attention for Africa.  

• This changed from about 1880.
  

The race for Africa

• The name Race for Africa was given by historians to the phase of Africa's colonialization process between circa 1880 and 1914.
  
• During this period, a number of European countries tried to bring as much of Africa as possible under their direct control. Until then, Europe's role had in many cases been limited to establishing trading posts and concluding treaties with local rulers.
  
• After the expansion of Asian colonies, Africa was the last "terra incognita".
• In the course of the nineteenth century it became increasingly important to conquer colonies before other (European) powers would.
  
• Explorers signed contracts with African rulers to gain as much land as possible. This created tensions between European countries.

The Berlin Conference

15 European countries and the US gave themselves permission for the further colonization of Africa and divide the cake ehhh ..... the map.

Race for Africa

ca 1880-1914

• Berlin Conference (1884-85): European countries discussed the division of Africa.
  

• Initiative: German chancellor Bismarck, Germany wanted colonies in Africa as well.
• Rules 1) Region could only be claimed if it had been occupied by an army. 2) European countries had to establish governments in them.

• After the conference, countries tried to occupy as many areas in Africa as possible.

Major consequences of the division of Africa

• Around 1900: Africa divided into 40 regions, of which only four regions were governed by  Africans themselves. Random drawn borders took no account of relationships between African tribes. 
• African economy was made secondary to European economy -> raw materials: gold, ivory, cocoa, copper, rubber were 'traded', market for cheap European products.
• Missionaries had to 'civilise' Africans and convert them to Christianity.
  
• African peoples came into contact with modern means of communication and transport, such as telegraphs and trains.

Terms, persons, dates

• Mungo Park (West Africa),  David Livingstone (South and Central Africa and Henry Morton Stanley (river Congo)
• Expedition: journey into unknown territory involving exploration and research.
• Berlin Conference 1884-1885
• Chancellor Bismarck
  
• Race for Africa (1880-1914)
  

Get to work

What? See whiteboard.

How? Alone 

Help? Ask neighbour. Can't figure it out? Ask teacher. 

Time? Until the end of the lesson. 

Done? Learn terms and dates. Ask teacher.