Dynamics of Power and Identity in Europe and Their Impact on African Expansion
As the demand for resources escalated, Europeans shifted their attention toward Africa intending to exploit its abundant resources and materials to achieve economic growth. However, the European exploitation of African resources did not only result in economic growth but also in the brutal exploitation of the African people. The powers engaged in exploitative practices in Africa, including forced labor, slavery, and the use of violence to suppress any form of resistance. From the 15th to the 20th century, Europe utilized various strategies, including the use of commodities such as gold, governing ideologies, and nationalism to maintain control and dominance over the African continent in pursuit of
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On the positive side, it provided a reason for their cooperation and expansion of their empires. Nationalism also helped European countries establish strong and organized governments that could effectively manage their colonies and acquire resources for their nations. Moreover, European countries brought new technologies, advancements, and ideas to Africa, which helped develop the continent. However, the negative consequences of nationalism in Africa cannot be overlooked. It led to the destruction of African societies and cultures as European countries forced their beliefs and values on them, resulting in the devaluation of African traditions and customs. Furthermore, African people were subjected to hard labor and mistreatment to satisfy the desire for expansion. The imposition of European ways of life on African people also led to a loss of cultural identity and heritage for many African communities and cultures. Therefore, while nationalism brought some positive changes to Africa, it also had significant negative impacts, continuing to affect the African continent
Europe’s encroachment upon Africa revolutionized their society, however the
European nations exported goods such as, cotton, palm oil, coffee, sugar, rubber, ivory, gum, copper, zinc, lead, coal, and diamonds, and more. A faster way of collecting resources was owning slaves and having them do the job of going to get the resources, they weren’t paid so it saved the Europeans a lot of money, and a lot of time. But it still wasn’t fair for European nations just to invade a land and then have the people that previously lived there work for you it's just so discourteous to the African people. Along with that the people were forced to extract resources from their land and give it up to the Europeans and if they did not meet their quota they were punished harshly sometimes even getting their hands cut
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.
Europeans wanted African land so much that they were willing to do anything to get the natural resources that Africa held. The Europeans went out of their way to get these resources. Africa was rich and the most needed resources at this time to update and advance new Technology and for economic purposes. Firstly, Europeans had more Technology advancements.
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.
Not only did the movement bring out people’s pride for their country, it also created a competition among European countries. As countries went to war with each other, they realized they needed more colonies and the conquering of African nations gave them an advantage. (doc 12) However, the strongest and most critical motive for imperialism was for economic purposes. In addition to nationalism, Europeans were also experiencing a period of industrialization.
A wave of colonization and empire-building by European nations between 1830 and 1914, known as the New Imperialism, had far-reaching effects on the world. A complex interplay of economic, political, and social variables fueled this process and drove Europeans to seek power, economic dominance, and a racist ideology. The violent expansion of European empires and the imposition of European political and economic institutions on conquered peoples were clear manifestations of the desire for power. The necessity for raw materials and markets for manufactured goods drove economic dominance, and social Darwinism provided a defense for the exploitation of non-European peoples. The Europeans were motivated by the pursuit of power, economic domination, and a bigoted ideology.
After the European nations took over many colonies, the European nations produced raw materials for themselves. The European nations conquering other nations leaves the native people in needs of money. The African culture was dominated by the Europeans and they were forced to learn the bible. The nations that were colonized by the Europeans, their government becomes weak and unable to help the native people. The Industrial Revolution and the Imperialism have many negative and positive effects on both the European nations and their
The Europeans were able to develop the African society with industrialization and commerce, but their success cannot compare with their greed for land and the tyranny that was placed upon the natives. Although some only wanted to expand their industries by using the regional natural resources and introduce the Africans to a more efficient way of life, most converted the natives to Christianity in order to take advantage of Africa’s abundant land. The Europeans also caused unfathomable destruction among the indigenous people and reduced them to lowly servants, giving the Africans no choice but to fight for their freedom. Some may argue that the Europeans civilized the native people since they had not been exposed to Western culture. Although the Europeans governed the Africans and provided them with some economic and structural advancements, their motives were predominantly ones of greed, ignorance, and discrimination.
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.
Europe takes advantage of Africa. The main driving forces behind European Imperialism consisted of three fundamental factors which included Political, Technological, and Economic. The way these three components are involved in the driving force because they all helped shape and push everything together to make more efficient. The first component that helped take over land or “European Imperialism” was Technological power.
Imperialism In Africa Imperialism was a huge advancement for Europeans in the nineteenth century. Europeans sought to colonize Africa in search for raw materials and markets. Colonies in Africa were affected negatively by Imperialism, it brought many problems regarding military, economic, and social changes to the African society. Warfare, natives losing their land, and foreigners degrading the natives were all significant effects that were bad for the Africans.
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.
Economic were more of a driving force because they were in need for natural resources for them to improve technology and their nation. Europeans wanted African resources like rubber and oil. They also wanted to create new markets for their goods that would lead them to great wealth for their nation. Several European industries benefited from African resources. Cotton, rubber, oil, zinc , coffee, gold, diamonds, peanuts, bananas, cocoa, sisal, ivory and gum were exported(Doc D).
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.