Transcript European Colonization of Africa

EUROPEAN
COLONIZATION OF
AFRICA
SS7H1 The student will analyze continuity and change in
Africa leading to the 21st century.
a. Explain how the European partitioning across Africa
contributed to conflict, civil war, and artificial political
boundaries.
EUROPE FIRST BECAME INTERESTED IN
AFRICA…..
During the trans-Atlantic slave trade from the
1500’s till the early 1800’s.
Even though the slave trade ended,
competition for power kept European
countries interested in Africa (imperialism)
Colonization is the forced take over of one
nation or region by another nation
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE
AFRICA BEFORE COLONIZATION
REASONS FOR THE COLONIZATION OF
AFRICA
1. Imperialism-power and competition with
other European countries
2. Raw Materials -natural resources, such as
gold, diamonds, coal, rubber, platinum, and
uranium.
3. Control of transportation routes- British
Empire controlled the Suez Canal in Egypt
4. Spread Christianity/Racism- Christian
missionaries would convert what they
believed were the “heathen” natives of Africa
THE BERLIN CONFERENCE
 In 1884-1885 European nations met at the Berlin
Conference to decide how to divide up Africa. African’s
did not have a say on how it would be divided!
 In the late 19 th & early 20 th centuries, European powers
raced to colonize the African continent ...
 This would become known all around the world as the
SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA! (when European nations
raced(scrambled) to take their piece of African land and
colonize it.)
 The SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA VIDEO
 Explained by a student - video
THE BERLIN CONFERENCE
COLOR IN THE COLONIZED MAP
OFAFRICA
LIFE UNDER COLONIAL RULE
 European countries used Africa’s natural resources to make
themselves rich. Often times without regard to the
environment or the people already living on the land.
 Under colonial rule African’s were treated as second class
citizens.
 Many were forced to assimilate(give up their customs and
adopt European ways).
 Other African’s were denied an education and forced of f their
land.
 African’s did not have a voice in making economic and
government decisions
 By the 1950’s and 1960’s(after WWII), many African countries
sought to seek independence.
RESULTS OF COLONIZATION
 New ideas were brought to Africa from Europe ( technology,
religions, language & culture ).
 The European drawing of artificial political boundaries did not
take into consideration the different ethnic and religious groups
that lived in the region.
 When these countries gained independence, the old colonial
(artificial) boundaries remained. This led to conflict and civil
war between the various ethnic and religious groups in many
countries.
 Because of the mistreatment under colonial rule, many now
independent countries did not know how to function on their
own. This lead to poverty, disease, government corruption and
economic weakness.
WHAT OBSERVATIONS CAN YOU MAKE?
DO THESE BORDERS LOOK THE SAME?
WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THE ARTIFICIAL
BOUNDARIES DRAWN BY THE EUROPEANS?