The exploitation of the resources of Africa, 'animal, vegetable and mineral', for the sole benefit of the colonial powers and their mercantile, mining and financial companies in the metropolitan countries were the primary motivation for colonialism as they had overtime had some level of influence in the continent. These Africa Countries were seen as a way out of the depression with the creation of more market and selling of their overproduced goods. They also needed larger amount of raw materials at a cheaper rate due to the progress of the Industrial Revolution so they invested their surplus capital in those places where they could get cheap labors and in turn make more profits in
It was prospering due to the success in the textile and iron industries. However, King Leopold II did not want just wealth. He desired to be the most prosperous and best nation in Europe. Africa was a country that was rich in raw materials and resources such as ivory and rubber. Therefore, Leopold commanded the Europeans to develop Congo River basin, soon after claiming the Congo, which then was renamed to ‘The Belgian Congo’.
The first factor is that the British gathered resources and exploited them to finance the industrial revolution. South Africa is well known for its riches for the Europeans. Since South Africa is under British control, they were able to gather resources like iron, gold, diamonds, manganese, platinum, and phosphates. The British would use these resources to create weapons, for example, the iron is used to forge a sword. South Africa has many resources for the British to use (“physchem.co.za”).
An imperialist government may want to acquire a territory to gain additional sources of inextensive labor and raw materials. By the 1800’s, there were intense rivalries among the European nations as they skated claims to parts of Africa. This race to expand European colonial influence is often referred to by historians as the “Scramble for Africa.” An imperialist government may want to acquire a territory to gain additional sources of inextensive labor and raw materials (Vontz, “Imperialism”).Industrialized nations can produce more manufactured goods than their people need or can afford to buy (Vontz, “Imperialism”). Motives for the colonization of Africa were that European interest in Africa began growing from the 1400’s as European nations acquired the military and technological capacities for overseas voyages and conquests (Klemm,
Egypt, the mother of the world, the home of the Pharaohs and the pyramids, was colonized by Britain. Britain had the largest empire during the 1800’s and the 1900’s, controlling land in Southeast Asia and in the Americas. After WWI the Ottomans were forced to leave all of its land in Africa. The new countries in Africa, especially northern countries were an easy target for imperialism. Egypt was very important for two main reasons, one of them being the amount of food Egypt had and its strong reliable food source.
After the Berlin Conference on Africa in 1884 to 1885, various European countries competed to colonize land in Africa. Many countries were represented in the conference, but the ones with higher power were France, Germany, Portugal, and Britain since they controlled most of Africa during that time, evened so, there was no representation of Africa. In order to not cause conflict, the Europeans wanted to divide Africa among themselves. This "Scramble for Africa" change Africa drastically because European gained control of many of their resources and land. The fate of Africa was in the European hands!
First, a flourishing economy can never exist without security and protection from a higher authority. Only a strong state with a strong military can stop the aggression of some humans on the rights of others. Jared Diamond in his famous book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, argues that the strong militaries with advanced weapons were among the main factors that enabled the Europeans to dominate most of the world during the imperial era. Moreover, military power will not only protect economies but will allow them to flourish either by violent or non-violent means. For example, the European imperial powers enriched their economies through the extraction of raw resources from the colonies and then selling them in the origin country and the colonies’ markets as well.
Due to this, Nigeria was able to trade a lot of goods quickly and efficiently. If it was not for the train tracks and roads, the agricultural industry would not have developed so quickly. Transportation has directly affected the development, and one of the largest industries in one of the economically ever growing region today. The railroads and roads made it more convenient getting in and out of the region. Before the Europeans colonised Nigeria, it was extremely hard and inconvenient to visit.
During Colonial era, power countries, (UK, USA, France, Germany, other EU countries), have drained their colonies (Africa, Asia, South America) of their resources to fuel up their development. This has led the great advancement of those countries in terms of technology, educational, health, and industrial, making them even more powerful and advanced. Towards late 1960’s most of the colonies have gained their independence. Meanwhile, the great power countries of the world need to carry on building their capital, through favorable trade agreements for cheap raw materials (boundless.com). The rise of globalization was the answer to the ongoing demand of resources (Puig and Ohiocheoya).
Introduction The African continent has become all too synonymous with these three words; war, hunger and suffering. COLONIAL BACKGROUND The African continent has become all too synonymous with these three words; war, hunger and suffering. Between the 1870s and 1900, Africa faced European imperialist aggression, diplomatic pressures, military invasions, and eventual conquest and colonization. At the same time, African societies put up various forms of resistance against the attempt to colonize their countries and impose foreign domination. By the early twentieth century, however, much of Africa, except Ethiopia and Liberia, had been colonized by European powers.