Africa Flashcards
Why was Africa known as the dark continent initially?
We know very little about it as had been occupied with lucrative areas like America, Caribbean, west/East Indies as things like tobacco and sugar cane grew there
What part did the arabs and ottomans play in reducing European contact?
Controlled Mediterranean access and were suspicious of European contact as they had already established key trading routes
What did explorers have to deal with?
- extreme weather and wildlife
- local populations had built up resistance
- early European explorers often died from diseases, area became known as ‘white mans grave’
Why was it difficult for Britain to impress Africa with their advances?
Arab cultures had already introduced technological advances to the tribes. Some of which included :
- literacy
- gunpowder
- iron production
- organised religion
Why was the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 important to Britain?
3 reasons
- converted freed slaves to Christianity, they had benefits from this like education and health care
- in Britain money was raised to establish missionaries. Fashionable in Victorian times
- leads to growth of Christianity in Africa
The Brussels conference of 1876
Who held it?
Why?
Who was invited?
King Leopold of belgium. Invited explorers and geographical societies
His motives were to protect Belgian interests in the Congo
The Brussels conference of 1876
What did leopold decide?
3 points
- Africans incapable of developing natural resources
- European intervention necessary
- routes into Great Lakes needed to have roads and railways
The Brussels conference of 1876
What did leopold establish?
What do it do?
What was it meant to do?
Personally what did he want?
International African association to coordinate efforts of all countries to achieve goals
But really instead of promoting cooperation it increased competition
To set up his own Congo empire achieve this in 1885
The Berlin conference of 1884
What was it also called?
The Congo conference
The Berlin conference of 1884
Who was it called for by ?
Organised by who?
Why?
Called for by Britain and France
Organised by Germany
Aimed to agree to joint policy for all nations
Br had been conferenced with Portuguese and French domination when they were in Egypt
The Berlin conference of 1884
What was Berlin conference meant to do?
End slavery of Africans and arabs
The Berlin conference of 1884
Whose control was the Congo placed under?
Belgium
The Berlin conference of 1884
Trade would be allowed where?
Over lake Malawi and lake nyasa
The Berlin conference of 1884
What was the principle of effective occupation?
Countries could have rights over an area if they already had treaties with local rulers, had settlers or missionaries there.
Helped to define each countries territory
ZANZIBAR
what based empire ?
Why was it important to …?
Arab based empire
Important to arabs as connected east Africa to Indian oceans so could quickly get to spice islands etc
Why did the sultun off Zanzibar have control of the slave trade networks?
He was wealthy
Who/what helped reduce slave trading
The Royal Navy after Britain passed law banning slave trade
What year did House of Commons order investigation into slave trade in east Africa?
1871
Why was the sultan disposed?
ZANZIBAR
He got his wealth and power from slave trade. When this eroded he lost his power. Led to power vacuum in east.
ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is turned into what eventually?
What’s it called?
Br protectorate
Heligoland
NYASALAND
who had previously explored Nyasaland?
Livingstone during Zambezi mission in 1850s
Why did Portugal try to claim Nyasaland?
NYASALAND
They were trying to build an empire
Wanted Nyasaland to join their territory in east and central Africa
NYASALAND
What happens in 1889?
Govt claims Nyasaland as Br protectorate - called British central Africa protectorate
The scramble for Africa - imperial and colonial policy
Br trade
What happened to British trade in Victorian period?
Suffered trade depression. Global markets suffered.
Lifted in late 1800s/1900s but not strong as mid 1800s.
