Transcript Document

The History of Africa
3000 BC – AD 1990’s
3000 BC - Egypt
Egyptians have a large civilization in
North Africa
They developed a writing system based
on symbols called hieroglyphics. They
also created a calendar.
500s – East Africa
Arab traders established ports for
trading gold and ivory.
Ivory is the tusk of an elephant and is
used to make jewelry and handicrafts.
600’s – North Africa
Arab Armies come from the Arabian
Peninsula and conquer North Africa.
As a result, many people in North, West,
and East Africa converted to Islam. Also
Arabic became the main language in
the region.
1500s-1800s West and Central Africa
Europeans trade with African Kingdoms
for slaves.
The focus moves from gold to slaves. At
least 10 million Africans were taken. This
disrupted societies and families.
1800s – South Africa
Boer War.
This discovery of diamonds and gold
causes conflict in the Southern regions
between the British and the Boers
(which means farmers in Dutch.)
1950s – 1990s – South Africa
Black South Africans denied political
rights under Apartheid.
Countries put penalties or sanctions on
South Africa to pressure the country to
change the unfair practices.
Colonialism in Africa
1870’s – 1950’s
European Imperialism
In the late 1800s, the European powers
invaded Africa. This time, they did not
take the human resources, but were
spurred by imperialism – the desire for
global domination. The “scramble for
Africa” involved France and Great Britain,
Spain and Portugal, Italy and Germany,
and one individual, King Leopold II of
Belgium. By 1914 all of Africa belonged to
a European country. Only Liberia and
Ethiopia escaped Europe’s grasp.
Colonialism
“A system of European political,
economic, and cultural domination
throughout Africa”
Impact of Colonialism
While Leopold II’s actions in the Congo were not
necessarily typical of those that occurred in other
areas of Africa, the ruthless exploitation that
occurred during colonialism resulted in lasting
changes for the continent. It destroyed traditional
social, economic, political, and cultural structures.
Disease, starvation, and brutality decimated
African populations. It created economic
dependency on industrialized national and
institutionalized national and international racism
against Africans and peoples of African descent.
Overall, it resulted in underdevelopment and
poverty. Today’s Africans continue to struggle to
overcome the legacy of colonialism and achieve
freedom and respect.
Justification
Duty of the “higher” civilizations to
conquer the “lower” civilization to bring
progress and prosperity
Goals of Europeans
Bring and enforce law and order in Africa
Promote obedience and loyalty to colonial
rulers
Power: promote political interests
(competition)
Money: Promote economic interests
(resources)
Government
Autocratic rule, not democratic (because
colonial powers assumed that their rule
would last forever
Language
Language of European colonizers; only a
tiny minority of the colonized even know
it.
Berlin Conference
1884. Europeans meet to divide Africa;
no African representatives from any
ethnic group.
The Berlin West Africa Conference, was held
from November 15, 1884 to January 20, 1885.
The great European powers – France, Great
Britain, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Italy,
and Spain – and the United States met in
Berlin, Germany to divide the African
continent into colonial holdings. There were
no Africans in attendance. The conference
agreed that:
1) any sovereign power that wanted to claim any
territory should inform the other powers “in order
to…make good any claim of their own,”
2) any such annexation should be validated by
effective occupation, and
3) treaties with African rulers were to be considered
a valid title to sovereignty.
This was the first time in world history that one
continent boldly declared its plans to occupy and
distribute the territory of another continent. In
addition, the conference recognized Leopold II as
the sovereign of a new state, the Congo Free State.
In fact, the Congo Free State was his personal colony
– a private state owned exclusively by Leopold.
Congo Free State
Leopold II had begun to put together the
Congo Free State in 1877 when he formed the
Committee for Studies of the Upper Congo
following British explorer Henry Morton
Stanley’s exploration of the area. Leopold II
directed Stanley to negotiate with local rulers
and by 1884, Stanley had signed treaties with
450 independent African entities representing
905,000 square miles of territory. Occupying
almost all of the Congo River basin, the Congo
Free State was 80 times the size of Belgium –
three and half times the size of Texas!!
Its chief industry was wild rubber production. To
gain this precious commodity, the Belgians imposed
rubber quotas on each of the villages. As the
demand for rubber rose higher, the quotas were
also raised higher. Refusal to work or failure to
meet quotas often met with bearings, mutilation,
and even death. Another tactic to force the natives
to “work rubber” was to punish one’s loved ones –
the price of not working might be the safety or even
the life of one’s relatives, spouse, or children. It is
estimated that during the time Leopold II ruled the
Congo Free State, its population was reduced by
some 50%. The population of the territory is said to
have declined from 25 to 30 million to 8 million
people.
Leopold II built up a huge private fortune
through the control of the Congo’s vast
resources. However, international criticism of
the brutal treatment of the native finally
forced Leopold II to give up his control of the
Congo. He turned it over to the Belgian
nation in 1908, and the area became a colony
called the Belgian Congo. It was
administered by Belgium’s parliament until it
was granted independence in 1960. Formerly
known as Zaire, today the area is called
Congo or Democratic Republic of Congo.
Effective of European Colonialism
on Africa
European Perspective
Positive
Colonies provided Europe with strategic
military and economic advantages.
Europe received minerals and other resources
from colonies, which fed the Industrial
Revolution in Europe.
Many Africans were converted to Christianity.
Europe Developed trade relationships with
Africa.
European Perspective Continued
Negative
European powers had to fight against rebellions.
Colonial rule in many places, especially the Congo,
was morally repugnant.
Other Effects
A few Africans were granted French citizenship.
Europeans spent money to establish “basics” of
society like government and judicial systems.
African Perspective
Positive
European powers somewhat improved
transportation and communication
infrastructures, health facilities, housing, and
education.
Africans learned some things about market
economics.
Africans educated abroad came back and
helped their counties.
African Perspective Continued
Negative
Africans had to fight against colonial powers.
European settlers appropriated good land, taking it away
from Africans.
Some Africans were forced into hard labor for low wages.
Africans lost control over natural resources.
Many African leaders were removed from power.
Africans were not properly prepared for independence.
Europeans divided Africa with no regard to groups and
cultures.
The Legitimacy of traditional African practices was
undermined.
Other Effects
Missionaries came to Africa.
A few Africans were granted French
citizenship.
Europeans made transportation links and
trade routes between Africa and Europe.