DVA1501
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SECTION A: ESSAY-TYPE QUESTIONS
LEARNING UNITS 1 AND 3
THE HISTORY OF COLONISATION IN AFRICA
Exploration and Trade Expansion
Before the 16th century, countries mainly traded with the Mediterranean, China, and India. The invention of the
compass enabled Europeans to reach the Americas. Countries like England, France, Spain, Portugal, and The
Netherlands became wealthy through trade. They exchanged goods like sugar, tobacco, tea, and opium from East
Asia, gold and silver from the Americas, and gold, ivory, and slaves from Africa.
,Rise of Imperialism and Colonization
As European countries expanded their trade interests overseas, they began competing to protect their markets. To
secure their interests, they started practicing imperialism, which involved exerting control and dominance over their
trade areas. Over time, this control became more aggressive, leading to the use of military force to establish
complete political and military authority. European nations also settled in these regions, claiming sovereignty, and
establishing government systems, legal structures, social orders, and economic systems. This process is called
colonization, where colonies essentially became extensions of the European countries.
Early Colonization: Latin America and Asia
Latin America and Asia were the first continents to be colonized. By the early 1800s, much of Latin America was
under the control of Spain and Portugal. In Asia, territories initially fell under the influence of Spain and Portugal but
were later taken over by The Netherlands, England, and France in the 17th century. Britain was particularly successful
in colonizing Asia, and by the end of World War II, most of Asia was under British control.
Wealth and Resource Extraction
Colonization brought great wealth to the colonizers. The primary goal of colonizers was to exploit the natural
resources and labour in colonies to support their industries and development at home. The infrastructure and
systems established in the colonies were designed solely for extracting resources and raw materials.
Colonization Timeline
The period of colonization continued until after World War II in 1945. Spain and Portugal lost control over their Latin
American territories by 1830.
Late Colonization: Africa
Africa was the last continent to be colonized. Before 1860, the only European countries with influence in Africa were
Britain, France, and Portugal, mainly in the coastal areas. The delay in colonizing Africa was due to the perceived
dangerous conditions, including deadly diseases like malaria. In 1820, the discovery of quinine's effectiveness in
treating malaria encouraged Europeans to explore deeper into Africa. Explorers like David Livingstone and Henry
Morton Stanley provided valuable information about the continent's interior. Additionally, the negative impact of
industrial capitalism in Europe, such as unemployment and poverty, drove European governments to "export" their
surplus population to overseas territories. This led to the establishment of settler colonies in Africa.
Scramble for Africa
, From 1873 to 1879, Europe and North America experienced an economic depression, which led European countries
to turn to Africa for its abundant resources and cheap labour. The discovery of diamonds in South Africa in 1867
further fuelled this interest. As a result, competition between European countries for footholds in Africa intensified.
The Berlin Conference in 1884, organized by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, aimed to resolve territorial
disputes. It resulted in the division of Africa into colonies based on European spheres of influence. This event marked
the beginning of the "Scramble for Africa," which lasted until 1914.
Colonial Influence in Africa
By 1914, almost 90% of Africa was under European control, with Britain and France holding the most colonies and
influence across the continent.
Economic Depression and Africa's Attractiveness
Between 1873 and 1879, Europe and North America faced a severe economic depression. This economic downturn
was even longer in Britain. Prices for goods fell sharply during this period. In response, European countries turned
their attention to Africa, which was rich in resources and offered the prospect of cheap labour to revive their
struggling economies. Africa was also seen as a promising new market for European products. The discovery of
diamonds in South Africa in 1867 added to the growing interest in the continent. This led to intense competition
among European countries to establish footholds in Africa.
The Berlin Conference and the Scramble for Africa
In 1884, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck organized a conference in Berlin to settle disputes over African
territories. All European states were invited, and the United States, with an interest in Liberia, also participated.
However, no Africans were invited or had a say in the conference's proceedings. The result of the Berlin Conference
was the partitioning of parts of Africa among European countries with the strongest claims to the territories. The
borders of Africa were drawn based on European spheres of influence, as depicted in Figure 1.1. Importantly, not all
of Africa was under European control at this point.
The Berlin Conference marked the start of a period known as the "Scramble for Africa," which lasted until 1914. This
scramble had not only economic motivations but also political and religious factors. European countries competed to
expand their empires and consolidate their interests in Africa. They had already colonized most of Asia, and Africa
was the last continent remaining. Europeans were able to use advanced weaponry, which African nations couldn't
defend against. Additionally, Europeans believed it was their moral duty to introduce Christianity to Africa, and this
was closely tied to colonization and the establishment of missions.
By 1914, nearly 90% of Africa was under European control, with Britain and France holding the most colonies and
influence, as indicated in Figure 1.2.
The Move Toward Independence
