The scramble for Africa can be described as the rapid increase in the European countries claim for territories in the African continent between the last two decades of the 10th century and the start of the First World War in the early 20th century. This period has been described by historians as the period of New Imperialism. The scramble for Africa started in the early 1980s when the French were encouraged by Bismarck to move into Tunis. Before that, the African continent was neglected in the world affairs but after the scramble for Africa, there was increased European influence in Africa. Within a few years after the scramble for Africa, most parts of the African continent especially the north western parts had been covered by western countries influence. The European settlers established their influence in Africa very fast opening the exploration of the continent by the European powers. However, before the scramble of Africa, a very small percent of the continent (less than ten percent) was under the influence of the Europeans.
Cause and effects of scramble for Africa
Historians have suggested several factors that led to the scramble and partitioning of Africa. Most of the events that led to the scramble happened in Europe but not in Africa. One of the major events that led to the scramble was the end of slave trade. British had succeeded in the stoppage of slave trade in the African sea shores but the situation inland was totally different. Many chiefs in Africa were unwilling to free their slaves and therefore Muslim slave traders especially in northern Sahara and eastern coast continued with slave trade. The reports on continuing slave trade reached Europe through the European explorers which called for more steps to eradicate the inhumane act of slave trade in Africa (Boddy-Evans, 2010, p 1).
The 19th century was a period of extensive exploration by the Europeans especially to Africa. Every year, Europeans expedited Africa which led to the formation of African Association by rich men from Britain in 1978. The association wanted to send some explorers to Africa to trace the location of the enchanted town of Timbuktu and trace Niger River. However, as time went on, the major aim of the Europeans to Africa changed. Rather than exploring for fun and curiosity, the explorers started bringing home details of the potentials in the African continent. They recorded information about possible markets for European goods and the resources available in the African soil and presented the details to the rich Europeans who financed their explorations. The scramble for Africa is closely associated with Henry Morton who was an explorer sent by King Leopold II of Belgium to establish a treaty with the chiefs of communities along River Congo with an aim of creating a colony in Africa. Though Belgium did not have enough finances to establish a colony in Africa, this attempt triggered the work of Carl Peters among other explorers with the same agenda in African who were sent by different European nations (Harlow and Carter 2003 p 13).
The end of slave trade in Africa created a need to establish trade between the two continents to bridge the gap left. It is therefore suspected that capitalists in Europe played role in triggering the scramble for Africa in order to create legitimate commerce between the two continents. The capitalist had information on the vast resources which could be raw materials for their industries from the explorers. They therefore sent explorers to plot trade routes, identify populated areas where they could market their finished goods, and navigate major rivers. These capitalist established plantations in Africa to provide raw materials for their industries. The need to create colonies in Africa may be as a result of the need to establish a monopoly over certain resources in the African continent (Koponen, 1993, p 118).
Other factors that triggered the scramble for Africa include the invention of steam engines which were used to power boats used by explorers. The availability of reliable means of transport enabled explorers to penetrate areas which were previously inaccessible. The advancement in the field of medicine increased the Europeans interest in Africa. Before, the Europeans perished in Africa as a result of tropical diseases such as yellow fever and malaria, which they had no resistance against or drugs for treatment. The isolation of quinine from cinchona tree provided the solution to the deadly malaria and more Europeans were able to survive in Africa. The need for expansion of the European nation following the creation of a unified Germany and Italy may have also trigged the need for colonies in Africa.
The Berlin conferences in the mid 1880s came up with the guidelines and rules to be used by the Europeans to partition Africa. The European nations agreed some routes such as Congo and Niger rivers to be nobodys territory and established protectorate regions on which each nation would have total occupancy and influence. This led to a start of Europeans colonization in Africa (Osabu-kle, n d, p 3).
The effects of the scramble and partition of Africa are far reaching. Some of these effects are positive while others are negative. The European influence in Africa led to the development and establishment of state systems in many parts of Africa. The Europeans also introduced formal education in Africa where schools were built to educate the Africans how to read and write. European crops such as maize and cassava were introduced and flourished in some parts of Africa. The influence of Europeans in Africa attracted missionaries who introduced Christianity and Islam in the continent. Many Africans abandoned their traditional religion and embraced the new religion from Europe and Asia.
The negative effects as a result of scramble for Africa include the collapse of the African empires where the European became the masters. The Europeans exploited the African resources where trade relations between the two continents did not give room for African development. African resources were used to develop industries in Europe with the African gaining nothing. The loss of population as a result of contact between the two continents due movement of slaves to America affected the African communities negatively. As a result of instability and low population, the African societies were unable to either develop or resist European influence (Boahen, 1985, p 782).
Scramble of Africa describes the imperialism period in which the European powers rushed to acquire colonies in Africa. There are several factors that have been suggested by historian to have prompted the struggle. Among them is the exploration which brought home the vast resources in the African continent. Though Africa benefited in some ways, the Europeans exploited the African resources which led to resistance by the Africans in the 20th century.
Cause and effects of scramble for Africa
Historians have suggested several factors that led to the scramble and partitioning of Africa. Most of the events that led to the scramble happened in Europe but not in Africa. One of the major events that led to the scramble was the end of slave trade. British had succeeded in the stoppage of slave trade in the African sea shores but the situation inland was totally different. Many chiefs in Africa were unwilling to free their slaves and therefore Muslim slave traders especially in northern Sahara and eastern coast continued with slave trade. The reports on continuing slave trade reached Europe through the European explorers which called for more steps to eradicate the inhumane act of slave trade in Africa (Boddy-Evans, 2010, p 1).
The 19th century was a period of extensive exploration by the Europeans especially to Africa. Every year, Europeans expedited Africa which led to the formation of African Association by rich men from Britain in 1978. The association wanted to send some explorers to Africa to trace the location of the enchanted town of Timbuktu and trace Niger River. However, as time went on, the major aim of the Europeans to Africa changed. Rather than exploring for fun and curiosity, the explorers started bringing home details of the potentials in the African continent. They recorded information about possible markets for European goods and the resources available in the African soil and presented the details to the rich Europeans who financed their explorations. The scramble for Africa is closely associated with Henry Morton who was an explorer sent by King Leopold II of Belgium to establish a treaty with the chiefs of communities along River Congo with an aim of creating a colony in Africa. Though Belgium did not have enough finances to establish a colony in Africa, this attempt triggered the work of Carl Peters among other explorers with the same agenda in African who were sent by different European nations (Harlow and Carter 2003 p 13).
The end of slave trade in Africa created a need to establish trade between the two continents to bridge the gap left. It is therefore suspected that capitalists in Europe played role in triggering the scramble for Africa in order to create legitimate commerce between the two continents. The capitalist had information on the vast resources which could be raw materials for their industries from the explorers. They therefore sent explorers to plot trade routes, identify populated areas where they could market their finished goods, and navigate major rivers. These capitalist established plantations in Africa to provide raw materials for their industries. The need to create colonies in Africa may be as a result of the need to establish a monopoly over certain resources in the African continent (Koponen, 1993, p 118).
Other factors that triggered the scramble for Africa include the invention of steam engines which were used to power boats used by explorers. The availability of reliable means of transport enabled explorers to penetrate areas which were previously inaccessible. The advancement in the field of medicine increased the Europeans interest in Africa. Before, the Europeans perished in Africa as a result of tropical diseases such as yellow fever and malaria, which they had no resistance against or drugs for treatment. The isolation of quinine from cinchona tree provided the solution to the deadly malaria and more Europeans were able to survive in Africa. The need for expansion of the European nation following the creation of a unified Germany and Italy may have also trigged the need for colonies in Africa.
The Berlin conferences in the mid 1880s came up with the guidelines and rules to be used by the Europeans to partition Africa. The European nations agreed some routes such as Congo and Niger rivers to be nobodys territory and established protectorate regions on which each nation would have total occupancy and influence. This led to a start of Europeans colonization in Africa (Osabu-kle, n d, p 3).
The effects of the scramble and partition of Africa are far reaching. Some of these effects are positive while others are negative. The European influence in Africa led to the development and establishment of state systems in many parts of Africa. The Europeans also introduced formal education in Africa where schools were built to educate the Africans how to read and write. European crops such as maize and cassava were introduced and flourished in some parts of Africa. The influence of Europeans in Africa attracted missionaries who introduced Christianity and Islam in the continent. Many Africans abandoned their traditional religion and embraced the new religion from Europe and Asia.
The negative effects as a result of scramble for Africa include the collapse of the African empires where the European became the masters. The Europeans exploited the African resources where trade relations between the two continents did not give room for African development. African resources were used to develop industries in Europe with the African gaining nothing. The loss of population as a result of contact between the two continents due movement of slaves to America affected the African communities negatively. As a result of instability and low population, the African societies were unable to either develop or resist European influence (Boahen, 1985, p 782).
Scramble of Africa describes the imperialism period in which the European powers rushed to acquire colonies in Africa. There are several factors that have been suggested by historian to have prompted the struggle. Among them is the exploration which brought home the vast resources in the African continent. Though Africa benefited in some ways, the Europeans exploited the African resources which led to resistance by the Africans in the 20th century.
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