Figure 1.--The image of empire was one of the advance of civilization. Europeans were told they were bringing Chritianity and the benefits of modern science to the backward areas of the globe. The image here is an idealized view promoted in Europe. The realities of colonial rule, however, were often quite different than this civilizing mission. Click on the image to see the impact of Belgian colonianl rule. Virtually enslaved workers, including children, who did not meet work quotas were mutilated by Belgian colonial overseerers.

It was not until the 1870s did the Europeans began to carve out colonies in sub-Saharan Africa. It was then that the "Scramble for Africa" began. [Scramble] Africa in the 1860s was still in many ways the Dark Continent. Basic geographic information such as the source of the Nile was still unknown. The work of explorers was headline news. The source of the Nile was found by Burton and Speke finally discovered the source of the Nile (1865). A U.S. newspaper sent Henry Stanley (a former work house boy) to find Dr. David Stanley. The search and eventual encounter made headlines throughout America and Europe (1869). Stanley died in Africa and his body was brought back to Britain to be burried in Westminster Abbey, an indication of the importance of these explorers to the Victorians. Colonial rule soon followed. The European edplorers brought back accounts of backward peoples, continuing slave trade, primitive religious rites, and sexual abandon. The most horrifgy accounts to the Victorians was cannibalism. Even today the continuingbimage of primitive Africa is Europan explorers in a large iron cooking pot. Thus the European people were prepared for seizing colonies and this was further inspired by rising nationalism. The colonial era was launched by one of Europe's smallest countries--Belgium. King Leopold II, who proved to be the most brutal colonizers launched the colonial race in Africa. Belgium was a new country and had not participated in the colonial competition of the 16th and 17th century. Now Leopold declared, "Belgium must have a colony". The colony Leopold founded, the Belgian Congo, was a far cry from the humanitarian inpulse with which th Victorians justified colonialism. The French followed with a huge colonial empire in West Africa which connect with their older North African colonies. The British effort was more chaotic. Colonies were created in both West and East Africa. In South Africa, the British not only faced the Bohrs, but also the Zulus. Cecil Rhodes dreamed of railroad connecting British colonies from Captown to Cairo. There were also Portuguese and Spanish colonies. The new European states also paricipated. The Germans were late to the table, but claimed their own colonies in southern and western Africa. Italy obtained colonies in East Africa. This was all accomplished in a relitively short period and with surprising little conflict between the power involved, probably because the Royal Navy was still so dominant. Economic interests from these countries rapidly moved into the new colonies to exploit the resources.

Africa in the 1870s

It was not until the 1870s did the Europeans began to carve out colonies in sub-Saharan Africa. It was then that the "Scramble for Africa" began. [Scramble] Africa in the 1860s was still in many ways the Dark Continent. Basic geographic information such as the source of the Nile was still unknown. The work of explorers was headline news. The source of the Nile was found by Burton and Speke finally discovered the source of the Nile (1865). A U.S. newspaper sent Henry Stanley (a former work house boy) to find Dr. David Stanley. The search and eventual encounter made headlines throughout America and Europe (1869). Stanley died in Africa and his body was brought back to Britain to be burried in Westminster Abbey, an indication of the importance of these explorers to the Victorians. Colonial rule soon followed.

Civilizing Mission

The European edplorers brought back accounts of backward peoples, continuing slave trade, primitive religious rites, and sexual abandon. The most horrifyimg accounts to the Victorians was cannibalism. Even today the continuingbimage of primitive Africa is Europan explorers in a large iron cooking pot. Thus the European people were prepared for seizing colonies by the notion that they were brining the benefits of modern society to the backward peoples of the world. The actual impact of colonial rule was often very different from the rosy view provide by European governments. Klpinger described the "White man's burden". This was to bring the nenefits of modern science and Christianity to Africa. Thus the work of missionaries and doctors was widely publicized. All the colonial regimes, however, were primarily designed to exploit colonies economically. There were differences in colonial regimes. The Belgians were the most brutal and raspacious. There was, however, an element of brutality and exploitation in all the European colonial empires. Much of this was not well known by the public at large.

Nationalism

Seizing colonies was further inspired by rising nationalism. The size of a country's empire became a matter of national pride. Europeans became fascinated about Africa. Europeans and Americans were intreaged about the search for Dr. Switzer. Europeans were both intreagued and repeled by images of Africa, with both the natives judged savages and the exotic beasts. We note photographers taking exotic images of Africa for sale in Europe. A good example is the Zangaki brothers.

Economics

Economic interests from these countries rapidly moved into the new colonies to exploit the resources. [Larence, p. 288.] The basic arguments were the need for raw material and markets.

National Imperial Expansion

The colonial era in sub-Saharan Africa was launched by one of Europe's smallest countries--Belgium. The French followed with a huge colonial empire in West Africa which connect with their older North African colonies. The British effort was more chaotic. Colonies were created in both West and East Africa. In South Africa, the British not only faced the Bohrs, but also the Zulus. Cecil Rhodes dreamed of railroad connecting British colonies from Captown to Cairo. Portuguese explorerors had begun the European expansion in Africa. As a result Portugal was an important colonial power in Africa. Spain was not an important player in African colonialism. The Pope had essentially divided the world between Spain and Portugal. South America except for Brazil which buldged toward Aftica was alloted to Spain. Thus the Spanish focus was west toward the Americas rather than south toward Africa. The new European states also paricipated. The Germans were late to the table, but claimed their own colonies in southern and western Africa. Italy obtained colonies in East Africa. This was all accomplished in a relitively short period and with surprising little conflict between the power involved, probably because the Royal Navy was still so dominant. Details on the boundaries were worked out by Lord Salisbury and Count von Bismarck. [Wilson, p. 489.]

Tribal Groups

Europe over more than two millenia of over devestating conflict has organized itseld along ethnic and linguistic lines. This has not occurred in Africa. Most modern African states reflect the boundaeies drawn by European colonial powers in the 19th century during the scramble for Africa. The Europeans commonly ignored tribal nd linguistic afinities among African peoples. This mean that tribal groups were fracrtured and separated by boundaries. Thus modern African states commonly are composed of multiple tribal groups. And many tribal groups populate multiple countries. We have begun to collect information on some of these tribal groups. One such group are the Tuareg of the southern Sahara, a people who for milenia dominated the Saharan cammel caravans.

Sources

Lawrence, James. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire (London: Little Brown, 1994).

Wilson, A.N. The Victorians (W.S. Norton & Co.: New York, 200), 724p.

"Scranmle for Africa," Times, September 1884.

Created: 4:37 AM 4/20/2006
Last updated: 11:01 PM 9/25/2007