As European countries raced to carve up the second largest continent in the world for themselves, its inhabitants were forced to wonder as to why they were so eager to take land that was not their own. Nowadays, we are enlightened to these happenings owing in large part to the records kept by European explorers and rulers. Between 1750 and 1914, European countries colonized most of the continent, a policy known as imperialism. The main motives behind European imperialism in Africa are economic competition, the Industrial Revolution, and nationalism. Economic competition between countries was a big factor. Africa was a treasure trove of natural resources that European industries could benefit off of. Rubber, spices, precious metals, and other
European countries tried to civilize Africa and succeeded in their movement on trying to imperialize them but only lead the Europeans to making a profit and nothing for the African workers. The only independent African states were Ethiopia and Liberia, the rest was ruled over strong European nations, like Britain and France. European nations ruled over Africa from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, King Leopold was one of the most notorious rulers over the African estates, Leopold ruled over the Congo free state and was considered to be one of the richest near his death. What motivated European nations to imperializing Africa were, money, resources, and nationalism.
During the 15th century, the world was caught in the age of exploration. After Columbus, everyone realized that there were still undiscovered land masses that held numerous resources and extreme profit. Due to the fact that the Americas were occupied by Spain and Portugal, much of Europe turned its eyes to Africa. Consequently, Africa was a huge land mass that was just waiting to be explored, especially since Portugal hadn’t gone beyond the outer edge. The reasons for European imperialism in Africa were due to the want for more resources to boost the economy, the advantage of better technology, and a need to establish a position of power.
Until the early 1800’s the colonies of Africa were unknown to the people of Europe, but since the late 1800’s almost 90 percent of the African colonies were controlled by European countries, such as Spain, Britain, Germany according to the video about European imperialism we watched in class. The European in the 1900’s has done enormous amount of damage to Africa. The major point that the Africans lost during this time period was there sudden change in lifestyle. The changes included loss of someone close to them, forced to join the military, sold as a slave and many others.
Europe colonized Africa seeking mutual benefits of the European industry and supposedly of Africans as well. While before 1850, Europe only had control and access to a small percent of the African continent, European nations had gained control of most of Africa and had access to most of its resources and markets by 1914 (Doc 6). This displayed an entirely new opportunity for European nations to gain much wealth and power from new resources and customers. As for the Africans, before the arrival of Europe, war, human sacrifice, witch doctors, and slave-trade among African natives were common. Believed to be savages, Africans had much to appreciate from learning the European conduct of justice and humanity, according to imperialists.
European expansion into Africa created great controversy. Within approximately half of a century, Europeans had gained control of all African lands except for Ethiopia and Liberia, (Doc. 4). By taking their land and power, European nationalism had occupied full control of the continent. Technology also played an important role in the removal of many occupations. Since machinery was taking the place of workers, factories needed less workers to operate the equipment.
One of the many reasons was that Europeans began to believe that the more territory they obtained control for their colonies, the more power one could obtain it would become more solid it would become seen by the others. Other reasons for the Europeans to desire control over African land included that many of the natural resources could only be found within Africa, examples such as diamonds, gold, and as time moved on, rubber. Providing new markets to surrounding places so that manufactured goods could be sold for larger profit. Europeans had many motivations for imperializing Africa. The main motivations were more than likely shielded, as they tried presenting themselves as philanthropist, within reality they were making Africa a horrible place to live with brutal treatment of the natives as well as multiple physical and emotional tolls for the people of
This question is still being asked and there are many opinions about this specific question, but there is one answer. The driving force behind European imperialism in Africa is resources. Africa provided resources that the European countries desperately needed. You see, there was competition in Africa among the European countries, technology development increased, and power gain. These reasons may sound complicated, but it’s actually quite simple each reason
The effects of imperialism was quite chaotic in the beginning causing an up rise from Africa and the Middle East. At first both resisted but over time western ways was making it’s way into a part of the daily routine. The imperialism started with Africa and eventually moved into the Middle East, but when it started in Africa it was for the natural resources the country possessed at the time. The Middle East was different due to the ruler at the time, Muhammad Ali was the ruler of Egypt and wanted to modernize Egypt the way he wanted to. He is sometimes known as “Father of Modern Egypt” although when he died they was not a leader that was as strong as he was to hold up his empire.
What was the driving force behind European Imperialism in Africa? Between 1500 and 1800 the Europeans knew little about the interior of Africa their presence was to buy and sell slaves for pots, cloth, and weapons and set sail to America. Late as 1870 ten percent of Africa was under Europeans control and most was along edges by 1914 ninety percent of Africa was in control four years later. Due to the countries that held African colonies in 1914 that involved the British, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spain, and Belgian. France and Britain were the main conquer in African colonies, because there conqueror of land in Africa.
The Driving Forces Behind European Imperialism In Africa European imperialism and what was driving its forces behind it? In the 1500 and 1800, European nations started European imperialism in Africa. European imperialism was European countries expanding their empire by harshly establishing colonies in Africa to exploit African resources. So what led European countries into imperialism in Africa? Cultural beliefs, political competition, and economic reasons are the reasons that led up to imperialism in Africa.
Following the Industrial Revolution was an age known as the age of imperialism. The Age of Imperialism is defined as the time period in which all the European nations decided to colonize Africa. There was only one question that seems to come up again and again. What was the motive for colonizing Africa? Although there are many different reasons that the European nations decided to move in on Africa, there are only a few that stand out over the others.
Based on the documents, expanding empires and having a new source of materials was the driving force of imperialism in Africa. On the map in document A, it shows the partition of Africa among the European countries. Out of the eight countries that are shown the
Within the 1800’s European Explorers forced their way through the insides of western and central Africa. Along the west coast of Africa, European nations traded for slaves, ivory, and gold. Africa was under full assault by the 1800s, as European nations competed with one another for control of the continent. Europe wanted to imperialism (take over) Africa and the forces (what they did) that helped them succeed is the new technology, Nationalism, and lastly the most important industrialism. Europeans invented many different things in order to help them take control of Africa.
In the 19th century imperialism was an important part of building European empires. The four major motives for imperialism are economic, strategic, religious and political. These motives helped great empires expand their territory and brought new cultures and languages to both the colonised countries and the countries colonising them. European countries such as Britain and France would use their colonies in Africa for economic gain. They would be able to exploit the country’s natural resources and bring them back to the “mother country” to sell and use.
The only thing Europeans loved more than political power was increasing their trade. In the 1800’s European nations had a desire to get a lead to widespread imperialism in Africa. With the end of slavery in 1833, European interest in Africa shifted to seizing colonies. King Leopold of Belgium acquired a private country in Africa that was 95 times bigger than Belgium and his purpose was to make money by taking out ivory and rubber.