The document summarizes the European colonization of Africa in the late 19th century. It notes that prior to this period, little was known about the interior of the continent. Explorers like David Livingstone generated interest through their travels. This led King Leopold of Belgium to claim the Congo region. Other European nations followed suit, dividing Africa at the Berlin Conference without African representation. With their military and technological advantages, Europeans were then able to easily dominate the African nations and imperialize the continent by 1914 for its raw materials needed due to industrialization.

3. 1845 Map of Africa
• Until mid 19th century,
very little known
about Tropical Africa
• Previous contact was
limited mainly to slave
trade through
European forts &
trade stations along
the African coasts

4. Exploration & interest
• David Livingstone
– 1860’s Scottish Missionary
– MIA for several years
– H.M. Stanley
• American newspaper
reporter
• Wrote articles about
searching for Livingstone
• Articles made World-Wide
headlines
• Famous greeting:
“Dr. Livingstone I presume?”

5. King Leopold & the Congo
• This exploration &
increasing interest led to a
treaty whereby Belgium
gained the Congo
• Soon after
Belgium claimed a
section of Africa,
other nations of
Europe scrambled
to do the same

6. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885
• The Berlin Conference set forth the rules for
the division of Africa

7. • Fourteen European
nations met, with no
African representation,
to divide the continent
with little regard to
ethnic or linguistic
boundaries
• After the division, only
Liberia & Ethiopia were
not imperialized by 1914
Video: “The Scramble for Africa”

8. European Conquest of Africa
• With Europe’s advanced
technology, primarily in
weaponry & steamships, &
the cultural disunity of
Africa, the African nations
were easily dominated
 Better weapons (guns vs spears &
clubs)
 Able to control a conquered area
more easily (Railways, Steamboats,
& Telegraph cables)
 The drug quinine (immunization for
malaria)
 Europeans played rival groups
against each other

9. The Boer War
• Despite the European
agreement to
peaceful division,
conflicts still arose
• In South Africa, for
example, the Dutch,
British, & Africans
fought for land &
resources
Video: “The Second Boer War: When Does a War Stop Being a War?”

10. Key Emphasis on
African Imperialism
• In Africa, Europeans began
exploring & then eventually
took over land to get more
raw materials that were
needed as a result of
industrialization
What were the motives
for the European
“Scramble for Africa”?