European nations scrambled to colonize Africa in the late 19th century, dividing the continent amongst themselves without input from African rulers. New technologies like steam ships and guns gave Europeans advantages over African peoples. By 1914, Europe had colonized almost all of Africa for economic and political gain, though resistance like the Zulu and Boer Wars delayed some colonization efforts. Colonial rule had both negative impacts like loss of independence and positive impacts like reduced wars and increased infrastructure, but mainly benefited European interests over Africans.

1. The Age of
Imperialism
The Scramble for
Africa

2. IMPERIALISM
 What is Imperialism?
 European nation’s attempt and success in colonizing as
many areas in Africa and Asia as possible for the sole
benefit of their home nation.
 The seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country
 In the case of Africa, the European nations dominated all aspects
of the weaker countries including politics, economics and the social
lives of the people.

3. Africa in
1835

4. Africa
in
1914

5. FACTORS PROMOTING
IMPERIALISM
 Technology, new weapons, new steam
ships, railroads.
 Africans susceptible to disease, Europeans
had quinine for malaria.
 Europeans played off African rivalries on
one another and kept them from becoming
unified.

6. THE DIVISION OF AFRICA
 The Berlin Conference of
1884 – Fear of War
 Main purpose
 to lay down rules for the
division of Africa
 14 European countries
 African rulers were not
invited to the conference
 European countries
wanted to establish
colonies because of Raw
materials
 Diamonds, gold, copper,
tin, cash-crops (peanuts,
palm oil, cocoa, rubber)

7. RESISTANCE
Zulu fight the British
o-Shaka the leader of the Zulu formed a well
trained army in an effort to create a bigger state.
o-His successors failed to continue his strengths
and British invaders moved in.
o-The Zulu bravely fought the British using spears
and shields but eventually were defeated by the
British weapons at the battle of Ulundi.
o-By 1887, the Zulu had fallen under British
domination.

8. THE BOER WARS
 The Boers were Dutch settlers (farmers)
who had arrived in Africa in the 1600’s.
 They built large farms through the 1800’s
until the British arrived.
 In the 1830’s, they moved north to escape
British rule in what is called The Great
Trek.
 The Zulu then found themselves fighting
the Zulu and other tribes whose lands
they were taking.

9. THE BOER WARS
 When diamond was discovered in the late
1890’s. the British sought to create a
rebellion.
 The Boers fought back against the British
using guerilla tactics, Britain burned
much of the Boer lands in retaliation.
 The British used concentration camps and
killed over 14,000 Africans were killed
here.
 By 1910, the Boers were defeated and the
union of South Africa was formed under
British rule.

10. THE EFFECTS OF COLONIAL RULE
Negative Positive
 African people lost their land,  Reduced local wars
their independence, their  Improved sanitation
cultures and thousands of
lives (due to either disease or
 Provided hospitals and
war). schools
 Increased life expectancy and
literacy rates
 Division of the continent;  Economic growth
boundaries created by  African products became
Europeans posed several valued on the international
problems that are still market
present today.
Although these are all positives,
for the most part, they only
benefited European business
interests.

11. ASSIGNMENT
 Individually, you will label a
map of Africa. You will be
labeling the countries, bodies
of water and landmarks.
 After labeling the map, you
will then color code it
according to which European
nation had control of each
area. Use the map on page
361