The time period of 1750-1900 CE was a time of modernization and westernization following the Enlightenment and Age of Exploration which propelled Europe into being the central power of the world. It started off with the Industrial Revolution in Britain along with the emergence of capitalism which modernized European technology, weaponry, and ideas as well as giving them the desire for wealth all of which created a foundation for European imperialism in various parts of the world. Asia and Africa both fell victim to European imperialism, but to different extents both politically where Asia mostly retained autonomy while Africa fell under direct rule and socially where Africans fell victim to slavery and exploitation to a much greater degree
Africa was split between European countries with no regard for the African people, making this a prime example of inequality. Lastly, the Treaty of Versailles caused much distress. The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to be a peace agreement at the end of WWI, but many believe it led to the cause of WWII (OI). The Treaty of Versailles read, “Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the allied and associated governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war” (Doc 4). Germany was required to take full war guilt, and pay the reparations that went along with it (OI).
This is an example of what they had to do to become the strongest. Nationalism is a patriotic effort to make their country better. And that is what Europe did, which helped them take over Africa. This is just another example of a driving force that Europe
Europe’s encroachment upon Africa revolutionized their society, however the
Between 1750-1914, Imperialism spread throughout Africa. There were several driving forces for this. One of the motives for imperialism were the Natural Resources available in Africa. In the early 1800’s, the triangular trade in slaves between Africa, the Americas, and Europe exploited Africa’s population. Resources in Africa were also proven to be very valuable to the European’s.
Throughout time diverse regions have considered other societies to be barbaric, causing them to have the desire of “civilizing” them. Many individuals accept the rule of a higher and civilized region as they believe that their alterations will benefit them. Although, by enabling a higher power to acquire authority in another foreign nation, will diminish that regions culture and individuals will not truly possess respect, ultimately causing them to rebel against that foreign power after they comprehend their true nature. Likewise, after the Berlin Conference, which set certain rules for the partition of Africa, numerous European powers desired in colonizing Africa and obtaining control during the early 1800s, which was known as the Scramble
Even in, European countries during this era, the “Scramble for Africa” where the Europeans were fighting for leadership in African
In the 1800s Africa was an uncolonized country. Europe wanted to imperialize Africa. King Leopold of Belgium was one of the first to colonize parts of Africa for himself. Europe however found out a way to help split up Africa equally, this led to war within Europe. King Leopold was interested in money, not nationalism or culture attitude.
Each of these dramatic changes were brought on by the Europeans and hurt Africa in many ways. First, when the white people first conquered the African countries, they made many changes that upset them. “The period of imperialism has witnessed many wars. Most of these wars have been
As the world approached the 20th century, several powers grew desperate far more land and more control. Between the 1870 and 1900 years, Africa and Asia faced European imperialist aggression, diplomatic pressures, military invasion, and eventual conquest and colonization. The event that happened in Africa and Asia during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries had pushed African and Asian to make important political decisions in order to properly respond to Western imperialism. In that period, neither African people or Asian had the power to stand against to the Western imperialism, and eventually both continents had to sign unequal treaties that forced them to open their ports and cities to foreign merchants.
Although the authors within the chapters followed a chronological timeline, but the book as a whole did not follow the same timeline. For example as stated earlier chapter 2 explains European colonial influence in Africa and how it influenced African politics long after colonization. The following chapter begins to talk about “Africa’s volatile relationship with international capital” (35). The chapter then begins to describe the per capita relationship between Africa and other nations during the 1980s and 1990s. This timeline followed by the author leaves out decades worth of information on how the relationship became volatile.
During the period of imperialism in Africa all of the countries were competing for the title of being the richest and the strongest. In fact, the whole scramble for Africa was an opportunity for countries to enhance their overall economy. For example, King Leopold II of Belgium was determined to get the area of land so he can become more wealthy. France’s politicians thought that an overseas company would strengthen the country when it came to wealth, prestige, and power, so as a result they invested in land more toward the west and north-west. Britain wanted to protect their trading routes which required them to purchase land in East Africa, and they they soon discovered the rewards of the land so the were determined to obtain as much as possible.
Europeans invaded African villages out of nowhere; Africans were caught by surprise with no chance to fight back, and
There have been various perceptions concerning the history of Africa, and some of these have portrayed Africa in more negative than positive ways. In an attempt to examine the historical aspect of Africa through various lenses, this essay presents an analysis of evidence that have been brought forth towards understanding Africa’s role in world history, as well as reasons and lessons from the negative portrayal of Africa. The history of Africa has been viewed and understood through a variety of lenses in the past few hundred years. To begin with, the origin of the name Africa in itself has drawn a number of controversies that stem from the different perspectives through which the name has been examined.
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” --- W. B. Yeats, “The Second Coming”. Imperialism is the action of one country forcefully gains and keeps control over another territory. European imperialists were motivated to charge into Africa because of 3 main factors: economic, political, and social(Vontz, “imperialism”). With the rise of industrialization there was an increase of social problems in Europe.
