Transcript 12.1 notes
12.1 Imperialism in Africa Nations Compete ► Imperialism = control of a country or territory by a stronger country ► Africa divided by 100s of ethnic groups that spoke 1000s of languages ► Late 1880s Europe only controls 10% of Africa ► European travel into central Africa difficult Rivers too wild Steam powered ships change this Nations Compete ► Missionaries and humanitarians only ones travelling in central Africa ► David Livingstone = missionary ► No word from Livingstone for several years ► Henry Stanley (newspaper reporter) hired to find him ► Finds Livingstone in 1871 – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Nations Compete ► Stanley continues exploration of Africa ► King Leopold of Belgium hires Stanley to obtain land through treaties ► Leopold claims land used to abolish slavery and spread Christianity ► Leopold exploits natives & forces collection of rubber sap from trees; 10 million-plus die ► Belgian government takes colony away from Leopold Nations Compete ► Industrial Revolution encourages imperialism ► More land = better country ► European pride = ethnocentric ► Ethnocentrism = belief that your culture is superior to others ► Ethnocentrism can contribute to racism Social Darwinism ► Charles Darwin = scientist with theory of evolution – all living things evolve from previous living things ► Social Darwinism = application of natural selection to society ► Some societies have “evolved” and are “better” ► “Proof” is that some countries are more advanced than others Moving Into Africa ► Factors allowing Europeans to explore Africa: ► Maxim gun (1st machine gun) ► Steamship engine, railroads, cables ► Drug quinine protects people from malaria ► Tribal difference lead to conflict between tribes - prevent unified front against Europe Divided Africa ► Diamonds discovered in South Africa ► Berlin Conference divides Africa Needed to prove country could control claimed land ► Africans not included in decisions ► Boer War between British and Dutch Boers = Dutch settlers in South Africa Britain wins first “total war”