According to the overview, “between 1500 and 1800, European nations traded for slaves, gold, and ivory along the west coast of Africa, but they did not go deeply into the continent.” In 1884, fourteen countries met in Berlin to discuss the division of Africa to prevent war from breaking out.. This meeting would come to be known as the Berlin Conference led by Ottoman Bismarck. Up until 1885, they stated that if a leader wanted to control a certain part of Africa, then they must prove that they have control over that area and that was it. This was the beginning of European imperialism in Africa. Based on the documents, expanding empires and having a new source of materials was the driving force of imperialism in Africa.
The definition of imperialism is an action by a strong nation to take control of another country.
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 industrial revolution propelled African imperialism to a level the world had never seen before. During the late 19th century, borders in Europe became difficult to alter and the only way to expand was in other continents like Africa. Europe exposed Africa’s weakness and preyed on them, leaving the continent in disarray. The industrial revolution induced African imperialism for economic prosperity, the rise in cultural and social power, and political motives.
In the 1800s Africa was an uncolonized country. Europe wanted to imperialize Africa. King Leopold of Belgium was one of the first to colonize parts of Africa for himself. Europe however found out a way to help split up Africa equally, this led to war within Europe. King Leopold was interested in money, not nationalism or culture attitude. The motivation for controlling Africa was to colonize and help the African people.
According to this document, a driving force behind European imperialism in Africa is the economical benefit that came from Africa’s many natural resources. For example, the bar graph shows an extreme increase in the amount of money exchanged throughout the imports and exports, and their is a large difference between 1854, before colonization, and 1900, near the middle of the colonization period. The fact that the exports from Africa increased and became greater than the imports during the colonization period shows how Europe was using Africa as a source of income and took advantage of the resources within Africa.
In the race of European imperialism, European countries dominated innocent African colonies. The driving force behind this? Africa’s bountiful resources.
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. Those reasons are the incredible amount of natural resources, the need to increase production of new products, and the amazing economical payout. Though these are the main reasons, greed is a factor that should not be forgotten.
The Age of the new Imperialism began in the 1870s. Imperialism is when a nation dominates another country economically, politically, and economically. Economic , political , and social allowed forces to take over countries around the world. There were 7 different European countries with colonies in Africa. British,French ,German , Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Belgian. Ethiopia and Liberia were independent nation. Humanitarians were the first to explore Africa's interior. Europeans were able to control Africa's people, resources and land. They had technological superiority to control Africa's empire. Africa was rich in minerals and natural resources. Every nation was competing with each other to gain more land . The 14 European nation met
Between the 300 Years of 1500 and 1800’s European nations traded slaves, gold and ivory throughout the west coast of Africa. It changed when I the 1800’s people moved into central Africa and by the 1880’s Africa was being attacked by almost all of the world's nations. So what was the driving force behind imperialism in Africa. It was all made up from economics, morality and revolution.
In the beginning West Africa have traded goods like gold, slaves, sugar, and many more with European colonies. West Africa and the European colonies had a good run until the 1800’s. In 1884-1885 there was an important event called the Berlin Conference and this conference was lead by the European colonies to get some parts of Africa. Africa was not invited to this meeting and this caused tension between the colonies and Africa. This caused European colonies to take over some parts of Africa. There was three motives for European imperialism in Africa and they were economic, social, and political. However, the most important motive for European imperialism in Africa was economic.
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. Europeans soon gained control over the Ottomans, just like they
In Africa Imperialism played a big part in how the country today works and how it runs. Notably, one of the major conflicts from the past The Congo” free” state. Most believe that it wasn’t actually a free state at all. It began in 1903 when a British man by the name of Roger Casement submitted a report on his investigations into the Congo Free State. At the time it was run by King Leopold II. The state is located in the middle of central Africa. Leopold used the Congolese to supply him with rubber and Ivory. The report stated how horrific the people were being treated. They exposed the selfish ways of King Leopold. The Congo Free State became under King Leopold’s power not really even realizing what they have done.
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. European leaders then became aware of two things: Africa was contained with natural resources, and a scramble of the riches could begin a war between European nations. At the Berlin Conference in 1885, European Nations claimed parts of the African continent through rule of occupation. Though they did not consider the land claims of Africans, they did agree to specific principles concerning colonization, which included free trade, and improving the moral and material well being of Africans. Before European nations stayed away from the African continent, and now powers such as England, France, and Germany want large amounts of land of Africa. Several reasons European nations began to colonize Africa included political competition and ideological superiority; however, economic profit was the primary driving force to imperialize 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.