European Imperialism In Africa

Sample Author
By Suk Still
Published Mar 22, 2023

In 2017, Africa was home to 1.2 billion people. However, the effects of European imperialism in the late 1870s are still evident today. How did Europe imperialism in Africa get started? It is due to its extensive resources and power that gave rise to European imperialism in Africa. The article describes Africa as being torn away from its past, thrown into a universe that suppresses its values, and dumbfounded by a cultural invasion that marginalizes it. The Africa of today has become the distorted image of its past.

As Europeans realized Africa had many natural resources, they imperialized the continent to gain access to them. A recent article states that Europeans were not far from Africa’s coast during the period between 1500 and 1800 when slavery and traders flourished.

During that time, imperialism or even having colonies was the primary motive for Europe because of an incurable disease, Malaria. Europe’s interest in Africa did not begin until after the banning of taking Africans as slaves. Eventually, Europeans began to realize that Africa had a large number of natural resources that could be used to generate wealth.

Due to these events, the ‘Scramble for Africa’ occurred. To prevent wars between European nations, the ‘Berlin Conference’ was held in 1884 and 1885. The European countries took Africa and divided it into pieces for themselves. They invited everyone who wanted a piece of the continent.

This is how European countries were now colonizing Africa. New technologies enabled the continent to gather more resources faster and doom its self-sufficiency. Many European nations saw an opportunity to become more powerful after the Scramble for Africa. Africa’s geography and resources fascinated the Europeans. However, imperialism did have an impact on Africa’s future.

During the European Imperialization of Africa, many nations used Africa’s resources to gain power over their neighbors. Africa and their own countries were under their control.

Document B gives two poems from the point of view of the British and Germans. The more they take out of Africa, the more they can sell to other countries in Europe, which will rely on them for that particular source.

Catholics and Protestants tried to convert Africans to Christianity all over the continent. The missionaries believed a devaluation of African cultures and religions and western civilization was promoted as a means of renouncing African traditions. Additionally, schools and medical clinics were built alongside churches. Missionaries saw Africans as children needing guidance.

From the German perspective, we see that they wished to prove and maintain their newly won position of power for a long time. From the English perspective, they aimed to advance England’s land and sea power. Countries were eager to show that they were more powerful and more advanced than others. In order to do this, they looted as much as possible from Africa due to their lust for power.

Nationality or Darwinism quickly emerges as the result of European imperialism’s desire for power from resources. Based on Darwinian principles, species originate by descent, with variation, from parent forms and are selected by natural selection for the best reproductive success.

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This refers to the idea that people are better than everyone else due to their better traits. The desire to make their country the best drove everyone to take more from Africa, regardless of the price. We learn which countries have which resources and how this could affect their economies and others, including Africa, in document D.

African countries are being brought down by other countries as they try to outdo each other. European imperialism was driven more by power, resources, or the idea of nationalism than anything else. They misunderstood the concept. It was the technology brought from the industrial revolution.

The Europeans had weapons and technology before they imperialized Africa, but advanced technology was only developed once they began exploring and colonizing. While technology didn’t drive European imperialism, it did support it.

Darwinism, power, and resources were the driving forces behind European imperialism. In fact, these factors, along with nationalism, were the starting points. As a result, many nations divided Africa for its resources to gain power over one another and prove that they were superior. 

Sample Details

Topic

Africa, Imperialism, Trade, Slavery

Subject

Politics

Academic Level

Undergraduate, Postgraduate

Page

2

Words

692
Download PDF

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Sample Details

Topic

Africa, Imperialism, Trade, Slavery

Subject

Politics

Academic Level

Undergraduate, Postgraduate

Page

2

Words

692
Download PDF
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