The Partition of Africa

North Africa

Sahara Desert and Fertile land along the Mediterranean

Close ties to the Muslim world Early 1800’s, under control of Ottoman

Empire

West Africa

Grasslands Islamic reform movement Usman dan Fodio: Jihad: holy struggle to

revive and purify Islam Forest regions: Asante kingdom: traded

with Europeans and controlled smaller states

East Africa

Islam Port cities: Mombasa and Kilwa Slave ports to the Middle East Ivory and copper exchanged for cloth and

firearms from India

Southern Africa

Shaka united the Zulu nation in early 1800’s

Mass migrations and wars create chaos 1830’s: Zulus vs. Boers

European Contact

Explorers fascinated by African geography: Mungo Park and Richard Burton

Missionaries: Catholic and Protestant sought to convert natives (children in need of guidance) to Christianity

Dr. David Livingstone

Crisscrossed Africa for 30 years Less bias than most Europeans Opposed slave trade End of slave trade would come from

opening up interior to trade and Christianity

King Leopold II of Belgium

Sent Henry Stanley to explore Congo River basin “civilizing mission” Dreamed of conquest and profit Exploited riches of the Congo Belgian overseers brutalizing villagers Forced to work for almost nothing, savagely

beaten and mutilated International outraged forced Leopold to turn

control of Congo over to Belgian Gov’t

Berlin Conference 1884

European countries arguing over land To avoid bloodshed, met in Berlin to divide up

Africa No Africans present at Conference No European power could claim a part of Africa

unless they set up a government office in the area.

20 years later, European powers partitioned almost the entire continent

European’s Spoils

France: Mediterranean and N. Africa, empire was as large as continental United States at its height

Britain: smaller and more scattered than France, but included more heavily populated regions

Portuguese: Angola and Mozambique Italy: Libya and horn of Africa Germany: eastern and southwestern

The Africans Strike Back

Armed resistance across the continent Ethiopia was one of the only areas in

Africa (besides Liberia) to successfully hold off the Europeans (Italy)

Age of Imperialism led to the development of a western-educated African Elite

Protectorate

Egyptian nationalists revolted against foreign influence in 1882

Britain made Egypt a protectorate Governor of Egypt was still an official of

the Ottoman government but followed policies dictated by Britian

Protectorate=Puppet government