The Scramble for Africa

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The Scramble for Africa
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THE DARK CONTINENT

• Dark Continent racist terminology referred to
  both the peoples of Africa and their alleged
  ignorance
• In reality, Africa has always had diverse groups
  of people with their own unique cultures and
  histories
• Civilizations
• Languages
• Religions

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GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA

• Continent not a country
• Continent is three times larger than Europe!
• Northern Africa desert
• Mid-to-southern Africa diverse climates and
  topography

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European powers engaged in a Scramble for
Africa starting in the 1870s. By 1890, most of
Africa came under European control.
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This map shows Africa in 1914 and shows how much
land the major nations had taken over.
BRITAIN
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
BELGIUM
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British Colonies
Britain had managed to get some of the most
valuable land in Africa. The most important gain
was Egypt because of the Suez Canal. This
provided a much quicker and safer route to India
the Jewel in the Crown of the British Empire.
EGYPT
SUDAN
NIGERIA
BRITISHEAST AFRICA
RHODESIA
BECHUANALAND
SOUTH AFRICA
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French Colonies
France had also built up a large colonial empire,
mostly in the north west of Africa. This had
caused problems and there had been serious
arguments over colonies such as Morocco and
Tunis. Arguments over colonies caused bad
feeling between Britain and France.
ALGERIA
TUNIS
MOROCCO
FRENCH WEST AFRICA
FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA
MADAGASCAR
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German Colonies
Germany did not enter the race for colonies until
very late and, as a result, much of the land
gained was not very valuable. Despite this,
Kaiser William II was determined that Germany
should have a major empire.
KAMERUN
GERMANEAST AFRICA
GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA
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Italian Colonies
Italy did gain a few colonies but also had its
failures. It tried to take over Tunis but was
beaten to it by France. It tried to take over
Abyssinia but failed.
TUNIS
LYBIA
ERITREA
ABYSSINIA
ITALIAN SOMALILAND
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Belgian Colonies
Even tiny Belgium had an African colony the
Belgian Congo. This was one of the reasons that
Kaiser William II of Germany decided that his
country must also have colonies.
BELGIANCONGO
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By 1890, only Ethiopia and Liberia remained indepe
ndent.
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A positive effect of European imperialism was the
introduction of modern transportation and
communication systems, such as telegraphs,
railroads, and telephones.
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The introduction of European medicine and
improved nutrition led to an expansion of
population.
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However, there were many negative effects of
European Imperialism on Africa. African peoples
were treated as inferior to Europeans.
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Europeans divided Africa and ignored the tribal,
ethnic, and cultural boundaries of the African
people. This has led to tribal conflicts in many
African nations that continue to this day.