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Imperialism & ColonialismImperialism & Colonialism What Period in African and European history What Period in African and European history

are we referring to?are we referring to?The1880s through to 1914 (start of WW1)The1880s through to 1914 (start of WW1) What is imperialism? What is imperialism? It is the practice by which powerful nations or peoples It is the practice by which powerful nations or peoples

seek to extend and maintain control and influence seek to extend and maintain control and influence over weaker nations and peoples.over weaker nations and peoples.

Imperialism is similar in meaning to Colonialism and sometimes Imperialism is similar in meaning to Colonialism and sometimes the two are used interchangeably, there is a difference or the two are used interchangeably, there is a difference or distinction. Colonialism suggests distinction. Colonialism suggests FORMAL FORMAL political control and political control and involving involving annexationannexation (taking a region as your own) whereas (taking a region as your own) whereas Imperialism refers more broadly to control and influence.Imperialism refers more broadly to control and influence.

Imperialism dates from ancient times – think of the ancient Imperialism dates from ancient times – think of the ancient Greek and Roman empires where a particular religion or Greek and Roman empires where a particular religion or civilization attempted to civilization attempted to dominatedominate all others by creating a all others by creating a unified system of control.unified system of control.

Imperialism & ColonialismImperialism & Colonialism What is colonialism?What is colonialism?

Formal Political and economic control of people Formal Political and economic control of people in other lands.in other lands.

– What was (is) the idea of colonialism? What was (is) the idea of colonialism? 1.1. Divide the world and create a world political system Divide the world and create a world political system

according to European principles.according to European principles.2.2. Spread the European vision of capitalist society and Spread the European vision of capitalist society and

development that maintained political and economic development that maintained political and economic inequality where the European “powers” gain most.inequality where the European “powers” gain most.

3.3. There are a number of reasons behind this “Scramble There are a number of reasons behind this “Scramble for Colonies” . The use of the word SCRAMBLE which for Colonies” . The use of the word SCRAMBLE which has one definition - has one definition - an eager struggle to do or an eager struggle to do or obtain somethingobtain something gives us an idea of how this gives us an idea of how this period unfolded.period unfolded.

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Imperialism & ColonialismImperialism & Colonialism

Initially European control and influence was limited to coastal areas

Initially European control and influence was limited to coastal areas

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European Colonialism in Africa: Events and European Colonialism in Africa: Events and MotivesMotives

– Europe’s response to abolition of slave tradeEurope’s response to abolition of slave trade From 1825-1880s it was a stable (inward looking for From 1825-1880s it was a stable (inward looking for

some, consolidation of empires for others) period in some, consolidation of empires for others) period in Europe.Europe.

Although abolished there was still the need to Although abolished there was still the need to suppress and police the slave trade in this periodsuppress and police the slave trade in this period

– What next? What next? Refiguring positions in global arenaRefiguring positions in global arena Meanwhile there was an increasing Meanwhile there was an increasing interestinterest and and

knowledgeknowledge of Africa’s people, the continent’s great of Africa’s people, the continent’s great resources and potential, its opportunities and its resources and potential, its opportunities and its exotic nature drew adventurers to it. exotic nature drew adventurers to it.

The “Scramble for Africa” begins amongst the The “Scramble for Africa” begins amongst the European countries………European countries………

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European Explorers in Africa

19c Europeans Map the Interior of Africa

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SOME AFRICAN EXPLORERS:SOME AFRICAN EXPLORERS:Richard Burton & John Speke 1857 - 1858Richard Burton & John Speke 1857 - 1858

Looked for source of Nile with John Looked for source of Nile with John Hanning SpekeHanning Speke

Their exploits were the subject of the Their exploits were the subject of the film “film “Mountains of the Moon”Mountains of the Moon”

Richard Burton

John Speke

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Mungo ParkMungo Park Explored Niger River in

Western Africa Mungo Park, a Scottish

surgeon and explorer, was sent out by the 'Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior of Africa' in 1805 to discover the course of the River Niger. Having achieved a degree of fame from his first trip in 1795, carried out alone and on foot, he returned to Africa with a party of 40 Europeans, all of whom lost their lives in the adventure.

View of Kamalia in Mandingo country, Africa, from: Mungo Park, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa

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David LivingstoneDavid Livingstone Traveled for 30 years in Africa as missionary and Traveled for 30 years in Africa as missionary and

explorer From explorer From 18411841 until his death in until his death in 18731873 Livingstone explored the interior of central and Livingstone explored the interior of central and southern Africa. His initial aim was to spread southern Africa. His initial aim was to spread Christianity and bring commerce and "civilization" Christianity and bring commerce and "civilization" to these regions but his later missions were more to these regions but his later missions were more concerned with exploration, firstly of the Zambezi concerned with exploration, firstly of the Zambezi and its tributaries, and later to find the source of and its tributaries, and later to find the source of the Nile. During this time he returned to Britain the Nile. During this time he returned to Britain twice, in 1856 and in 1864.twice, in 1856 and in 1864.

Livingstone was one of the first medical Livingstone was one of the first medical missionaries to enter southern Africa, the first in missionaries to enter southern Africa, the first in central Africa, and he was often the first central Africa, and he was often the first European to meet local tribes. He won their trust European to meet local tribes. He won their trust as a healer and medicine man and gained such a as a healer and medicine man and gained such a reputation amongst the villages he visited that he reputation amongst the villages he visited that he eventually had to limit his treatment only to eventually had to limit his treatment only to those with serious illness. He was particularly those with serious illness. He was particularly sought for his skills in obstetrics, the surgical sought for his skills in obstetrics, the surgical removal of tumours and ophthalmology.removal of tumours and ophthalmology.

Livingstone was a keen and accurate observer; he Livingstone was a keen and accurate observer; he was also a prolific writer and his journals.was also a prolific writer and his journals.

Lithograph of Livingstone and his party going down the Zambezi rapidsCredit: Welcome Library, London

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Where is David Livingstone?

Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Livingstone completely lost contact with the outside world for six years and was ill for most of the last four years of his life. Henry Morton Stanley, who had been sent to find him by the New York Herald newspaper in 1869, found Livingstone in the town of Ujiji on the shores of Lake Tanganyika on 10 November 1871, greeting him with the now famous words "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" to which he responded "Yes", and then "I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you." These famous words may have been a fabrication, as Stanley later tore out the pages of this encounter in his diary. Even Livingstone's account of this encounter does not mention these words. However, the phrase appears in a New York Herald editorial dated 10 August 1872,

The words are famous because of their perceived tongue-in-cheek humorous nature: Dr. Livingstone was the only white person for hundreds of miles.

Stanley's book, written later, suggests that it was really because of embarrassment, because he did not dare to embrace him.

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Stanley’s Exploration in the 1870s and the Stanley’s Exploration in the 1870s and the Scramble for AfricaScramble for Africa

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Reasons for this period of ImperialismReasons for this period of Imperialism

The reasons or motivations fall under The reasons or motivations fall under 4 major headings:4 major headings:

Economic Economic Political and MilitaryPolitical and Military Humanitarian and ReligiousHumanitarian and Religious Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

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IndustrialRevolutionIndustrialRevolution

Source forRaw

Materials

Source forRaw

Materials

Markets forFinishedGoods

Markets forFinishedGoods

EuropeanNationalismEuropean

Nationalism

MissionaryActivity

MissionaryActivity

Military& NavalBases

Military& NavalBases

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

Places toDump

Unwanted/Excess Popn.

Places toDump

Unwanted/Excess Popn.

Soc. & Eco.Opportunities

Soc. & Eco.Opportunities

HumanitarianReasons

HumanitarianReasons

EuropeanRacism

EuropeanRacism

“WhiteMan’s

Burden”

“WhiteMan’s

Burden”

SocialDarwinism

SocialDarwinism

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EconomicEconomic

The time of THE The time of THE INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.REVOLUTION.

Need for more natural Need for more natural resources for the resources for the factories.factories.

Expanding of markets Expanding of markets to sell goods toto sell goods to

Outlet for Europe’s Outlet for Europe’s expanding populationsexpanding populations

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Political and MilitaryPolitical and Military

Steam powered Steam powered Merchant ships & Merchant ships & Navies needed Navies needed refueling stations - coalrefueling stations - coal

NationalismNationalism – to keep – to keep up with other great up with other great powers, ensure that you powers, ensure that you have access to areashave access to areas

The Prestige of owning The Prestige of owning and controlling an and controlling an “empire”“empire”

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Humanitarian and ReligiousHumanitarian and Religious

Concern for welfare of Concern for welfare of the less fortunatethe less fortunate

Some saw it as a duty Some saw it as a duty to help and to help and “enlighten” others“enlighten” others

Missionaries’ zeal to Missionaries’ zeal to spread Christianity to spread Christianity to all.all.

““Spread the blessings Spread the blessings of Western of Western Civilization” bringing Civilization” bringing “the best” to all“the best” to all

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Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

The West had a sense of racial superiority – The West had a sense of racial superiority – ethnocentrism – meaning that one group is ethnocentrism – meaning that one group is feeling superior to others due primarily to cultural feeling superior to others due primarily to cultural differences.differences.

Darwin’s theory of “natural selection” & “survival Darwin’s theory of “natural selection” & “survival of the fittest” applied to the human societies.of the fittest” applied to the human societies.

Destruction & conquest of weaker races was Destruction & conquest of weaker races was nature’s way of improving the speciesnature’s way of improving the species