Colonization of Africa, Berlin Conference, and an activity for students

1. (1884-1914)

2.  Imperialism – domination of another country/region
economically, politically, and socially
 Colony – territory that a foreign power rules directly
(direct officials)
 Protectorate – territory with own gov., but guided by
foreign power
 Sphere of Influence – territory in which an imperial
power has exclusive investment/ trading rights

3. Political Rivalries/Competition
*New Markets/Trading Routes/Resources*
Religion
Racism

4. 1000+ languages
Many Religions
• Indigenous, Islam,
Christianity,
Shamanism,
Animism
Great empires and
small villages

5.  Europeans stick to
coastline
• Portuguese, Dutch,
France, Britain
 Interior remains
“unexplored”
 Curiosity excites Europe
• David Livingstone (UK)
• Henry Stanley (UK)
 1840-1870

6.  Europeans provide
sugar, alcohol, and
firearms
 Africans provide
labor (slaves), ivory,
gold
• 1967- Diamonds are
discovered
 Slave trade reversal

7. Resources and Competition
• Free for all land grab
Fuel Industrialization = progress
New countries want in
• Belgium & Germany

9. Resources
• Gold, diamonds, timber, land, labor, trade
routes/markets, iron, copper, coal, ivory, oils,
rubber, cotton, cacao beans
• Fuel industrialization (Industrial Revolution)
White Man’s Burden
• To civilize (Social Darwinism)

10. 1. You will be placed into a group in which you will
represent one of the imperial powers of the
19th century.
1. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain,
Belgium
2. Assign one group member to be the diplomat
1. - person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy
(interact) with another state
3. Write your country (top center) and your group
members’ names (top right) on a blank sheet of
paper

13. Prioritize what your country wants MOST from
the land you are looking to gain. List from
most to least.
(Use the provided map to help with your
decisions?)
Land? Ports? Islands?
Resources (specific)?
Gain knowledge?
Spread Religion?
Anything else?

14. Based on the size of your empires, you will
be able to choose your territories(not the
entire continent).
We will go in order. You have one minute
to decide what and where you would like to
claim.
• Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy,
Belgium
• It is ok if claims overlap between groups

15.  Some European countries are very frustrated
with their claims. In order to prevent
aggressive actions amongst the countries of
Europe…
 You must work together to ensure that there is
no overlap
Trade, bargain, change borders, but keep in mind the
ultimate goal for your country.

16. • How well do you think your country
did? Were you able to get the land
you wanted?
• What difficulties did your group face
with this land grab simulation?
• What are some better solutions for
dividing the territories?

17. Looking at where
you have decided
to claim land, let’s
look at where the
ethnic boundaries
lie.
What can you
infer will happen
to these native
groups?

18. So What Happened?
Met in Germany to decide how to divide Africa
into colonies and territories

19. 1884-1885

20.  Called by King Leopold II
of Belgium
• Berlin, Germany
• Nov. 1884 - Nov. 1885
• Rising Tensions in Africa
 Gathering of European
leaders to decide how to
divide Africa
 “Great African Cake”

21. Britain
France
Germany
Portugal
Spain
Italy
Belgium
Holland
Who is missing?

23.  English Businessman
 Founder of De Beers
 State of Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Bostwana)
 Cape to Cairo “Red
Line”

27.  Powers could hold colonies only if they
actually possessed them
• treaties with local leaders
• flew their flag
• established a police force to maintain order
 Colonial power also had to make use of the
colony economically
 If not done, another power could do so and
take over the territory

28. Europe is much more “civilized”; it is their job to
show Africa how to speak and behave White
Man’s Burden
Take control of resource deposits
Colonies soon began making economic
decisions for the tribes
Eventually, colonies oversee politics as well

29.  Mines, plantations, factories, ports, Suez
Canal
 “Not slavery”
Low wages
• But taxed
 Workers often separated from home/family
 Similar to sharecropping system in the U.S.

30.  Berlin, Germany
• 1884-1885
 No Africans present
 “If you can establish control, its yours”
 Africa gets caught in the Dependency Theory
 economically
 Eliminates African self-governance
• Excluding Ethiopia

31.  Colonies consisted of various ethnic groups; some
hostile to each other
 Lose self-governance and control of homeland
 Families separated/move from home
 Linear Development (RR’s & economy)
 Adopt a blend of European and African culture
 Creates roots to WWI

33.  European languages and cultures last
 Resources depleted to Europeans (still lots of
resources)
 Brain Drain Theory becomes problem (20th
century)
 Violence
• WWI
• 20th and 21st c. rebellions across continent
 Nationalist groups
 Civil wars and genocides