Imperialism

Scramble for Africa

Imperialism Definition: System of

building foreign empires for military and trade advantages

Colonizer- Europeans Colonized- Africans,

Middle Easterners, Asians, and Americans

Why explore?

Gold- to gain wealth

Glory- to become famous

God- to spread Christianity

Trade

Trade and trade routes became very important.

Controlling markets was extremely competitive since it could be very profitable.

Two examples: Portugal- Prince Henry the Navigator Spain- Christopher Columbus

Portugal- Prince Henry the Navigator

Portugal wanted an easier trade route to Asia.

Under his guidance, Portuguese sailors explored the west coast of Africa and eventually developed new trade routes by sailing south around the continent of Africa to Asia.

He also set up a navigation school.

Spain- Christopher Columbus

Sailing for Spain in 1492, he tried to find a different trade route to Asia.

Instead of sailing south around the coast of Africa, Columbus attempted to sail west, across the Atlantic Ocean.

Columbus’s voyage took him to the Americas, continents unknown in Europe at the time.

It all started with Africa

Africa before the Europeans stepped in… Multiple religions/languages Variety of governmental systems

established Trading system with Europeans and

Muslims

Europeans step in…

TECHNOLOGY allowed the Europeans to go deeper into Africa.

EXPLORERS went into Africa first—faced many hardships…

They were followed by MISSIONARIES

The “Scramble” for Africa

Belgium started to explore and make trade agreements with African leaders.

This set off a SCRAMBLE by other European nations.

Before long, Britain, France, and Germany were scrambling to make claims in the region.

Berlin Conference

1884: European countries met to discuss how to divide Africa. (No Africans were invited to attend)

Results: Belgium took the Congo Any European power who wanted to claim a part

of Africa had to set up a government office there first.

Impact: Within 25 (1885-1910) years almost every part of

Africa was under European control. They redrew the map of Africa with little regard

for traditional patterns of settlement or ethnic boundaries

Asia Many Asian

territories saw a change from Europe as trading partner to Europe as conqueror.

Great Britain took control of India and Australia and fought over control of Burma, Laos, Siam, and Cambodia.

France controlled lands in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

Impacts of Imperialism

During the 19th century, factories in Europe required raw materials to manufacture finished products.

The Europeans looked for new sources of raw materials and markets for their goods.

Gold, diamonds, and oil were some of the resources the Europeans wanted. Asia and Africa had those resources.

Trade with their colonies around the world brought European nations great wealth and power.

Sadly, the Europeans often destroyed the local cultures in the lands they claimed.

end

“The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire”

The British Empire

India China Australia

The EAST INDIA COMPANY has been around since 1600s

The company’s main goal in India was to make MONEY

Leading officials often get very rich

The British worked at ending the caste system

China

Prior to 1800s: STRICT LIMITS on foreign traders China enjoyed a trade surplus while European

countries had a trade deficit British began making a profit by selling

OPIUM made in India for Chinese tea. Many Chinese people became addicted to the

drug, which disrupted the Chinese economy. The Chinese tried to stop the sale of opium The Chinese fought back in the OPIUM WAR

and the BOXER REBELLION.

Australia

Why did the British colonize Australia? Australia was a dumping ground for rebels,

poachers, and murderers… a prisoners’ island With the loss of Maryland and Georgia in the

American war for independence, Britain was forced to find another place of exile for its unwanted convicts.

How did the large number of prisoners/settlers impact the Aboriginal people? White settlement caused a rapid and severe

decline in the indigenous population

Territories of European/US Colonial Powers in 1900

Region Controlled Australia Africa Asia Americas

Percentages100%90.4%56.5%27.25

Impacts of Imperialism Competition and fierce rivalries developed

between European powers over colonial territories and they built up strong armies and navies to protect their interests

The industrial Revolution created a great demand for cheap raw materials and profitable markets to sell their goods.

This thirst prompted European powers to expand into Africa, Asia, and the Middle East so that by the late 19th century most of the world had been divided by the Europeans into colonial powers.

Between 1875 and 1895, and handful of European states seized over 25 percent of the world’s population.