Scramble for Africa & Berlin Conference

(1884-1914)

Imperialism – domination of another country/region economically, politically, and socially

Colony – territory that a foreign power rules directly (direct officials)

Protectorate – territory with own gov., but guided by foreign power

Sphere of Influence – territory in which an imperial power has exclusive investment/ trading rights

Political Rivalries/Competition

*New Markets/Trading Routes/Resources*

Religion

Racism

1000+ languages

Many Religions• Indigenous, Islam,

Christianity, Shamanism, Animism

Great empires and small villages

Europeans stick to coastline

• Portuguese, Dutch, France, Britain

Interior remains “unexplored”

Curiosity excites Europe

• David Livingstone (UK)

• Henry Stanley (UK)

1840-1870

Europeans provide sugar, alcohol, and firearms

Africans provide labor (slaves), ivory, gold• 1967- Diamonds are

discovered

Slave trade reversal

Resources and Competition• Free for all land grab

Fuel Industrialization = progress

New countries want in• Belgium & Germany

Resources• Gold, diamonds, timber, land, labor, trade

routes/markets, iron, copper, coal, ivory, oils,

rubber, cotton, cacao beans

• Fuel industrialization (Industrial Revolution)

White Man’s Burden• To civilize (Social Darwinism)

1. You will be placed into a group in which you will represent one of the imperial powers of the 19th century.

1. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium

2. Assign one group member to be the diplomat

1. - person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy (interact) with another state

3. Write your country (top center) and your group members’ names (top right) on a blank sheet of paper

Prioritize what your country wants MOST from the land you are looking to gain. List from

most to least.(Use the provided map to help with your

decisions?)

Land? Ports? Islands?Resources (specific)?Gain knowledge? Spread Religion? Anything else?

Based on the size of your empires, you will

be able to choose your territories(not the

entire continent).

We will go in order. You have one minute

to decide what and where you would like to

claim.• Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy,

Belgium

• It is ok if claims overlap between groups

Some European countries are very frustrated

with their claims. In order to prevent

aggressive actions amongst the countries of

Europe…

You must work together to ensure that there is

no overlap

Trade, bargain, change borders, but keep in mind the

ultimate goal for your country.

• How well do you think your country did? Were you able to get the land you wanted?

• What difficulties did your group face with this land grab simulation?

• What are some better solutions for dividing the territories?

Looking at where

you have decided

to claim land, let’s

look at where the

ethnic boundaries

lie.

What can you

infer will happen

to these native

groups?

So What Happened?

Met in Germany to decide how to divide Africa

into colonies and territories

1884-1885

Called by King Leopold II

of Belgium

• Berlin, Germany

• Nov. 1884 - Nov. 1885

• Rising Tensions in Africa

Gathering of European

leaders to decide how to

divide Africa

“Great African Cake”

Britain

France

Germany

Portugal

Spain

Italy

Belgium

Holland

Who is missing?

English Businessman

Founder of De Beers

State of Rhodesia

(Zimbabwe, Zambia,

Bostwana)

Cape to Cairo “Red

Line”

Powers could hold colonies only if they actually possessed them• treaties with local leaders

• flew their flag

• established a police force to maintain order

Colonial power also had to make use of the colony economically

If not done, another power could do so and take over the territory

Europe is much more “civilized”; it is their job to

show Africa how to speak and behave White

Man’s Burden

Take control of resource deposits

Colonies soon began making economic

decisions for the tribes

Eventually, colonies oversee politics as well

Mines, plantations, factories, ports, Suez Canal

“Not slavery”

Low wages• But taxed

Workers often separated from home/family

Similar to sharecropping system in the U.S.

Berlin, Germany• 1884-1885

No Africans present

“If you can establish control, its yours”

Africa gets caught in the Dependency Theory economically

Eliminates African self-governance• Excluding Ethiopia

Colonies consisted of various ethnic groups; some hostile to each other

Lose self-governance and control of homeland

Families separated/move from home

Linear Development (RR’s & economy)

Adopt a blend of European and African culture

Creates roots to WWI

European languages and cultures last

Resources depleted to Europeans (still lots of resources)

Brain Drain Theory becomes problem (20th

century)

Violence• WWI• 20th and 21st c. rebellions across continent Nationalist groups Civil wars and genocides