The Partition of Africa

North Africa
Sahara Desert and Fertile land along the Mediterranean Close ties to the Muslim world Early 1800s, under control of Ottoman Empire

West Africa
Grasslands Islamic reform movement Usman dan Fodio: Jihad: holy struggle to revive and purify Islam Forest regions: Asante kingdom: traded with Europeans and controlled smaller states

East Africa
Islam Port cities: Mombasa and Kilwa Slave ports to the Middle East Ivory and copper exchanged for cloth and firearms from India

Southern Africa
Shaka united the Zulu nation in early 1800s Mass migrations and wars create chaos 1830s: Zulus vs. Boers

European Contact
Explorers fascinated by African geography: Mungo Park and Richard Burton Missionaries: Catholic and Protestant sought to convert natives (children in need of guidance) to Christianity

Dr. David Livingstone

Crisscrossed Africa for 30 years Less bias than most Europeans Opposed slave trade End of slave trade would come from opening up interior to trade and Christianity

King Leopold II of Belgium

Sent Henry Stanley to explore Congo River basin civilizing mission Dreamed of conquest and profit Exploited riches of the Congo Belgian overseers brutalizing villagers Forced to work for almost nothing, savagely beaten and mutilated International outraged forced Leopold to turn control of Congo over to Belgian Govt

Berlin Conference 1884

European countries arguing over land To avoid bloodshed, met in Berlin to divide up Africa No Africans present at Conference No European power could claim a part of Africa unless they set up a government office in the area. 20 years later, European powers partitioned almost the entire continent

Europeans Spoils
France: Mediterranean and N. Africa, empire was as large as continental United States at its height Britain: smaller and more scattered than France, but included more heavily populated regions Portuguese: Angola and Mozambique Italy: Libya and horn of Africa Germany: eastern and southwestern

The Africans Strike Back

Armed resistance across the continent Ethiopia was one of the only areas in Africa (besides Liberia) to successfully hold off the Europeans (Italy) Age of Imperialism led to the development of a western-educated African Elite

Egypt and Iran

Egypt: Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali appointed governor in 1805 father of modern Egypt Improved tax collection, reorganized landholding system, backed irrigation projects, increased Egyptian participation in world trade Western military experts to help build well trained, modern army Conquered Arabia, Syria, Sudan

Suez Canal

Suez Canal
1859 Ferdinand de Lesseps (French) organized a company to build the canal. Egypt increasingly under foreign control 100 miles long, links Med. with Red 1875 ruler of Egypt couldnt pay loans taken out for the canal, so had to give up his shares in it to Britain

Protectorate
Egyptian nationalists revolted against foreign influence in 1882 Britain made Egypt a protectorate Governor of Egypt was still an official of the Ottoman government but followed policies dictated by Britian Protectorate=Puppet government

Iran
Qajar shahs ruled Iran from 1794-1925 exercised absolute power Improved finances, sponsored building of telegraph lines and railroads, experimented with a liberal constitution Russia and Britain battled for influence

Why Britain and Russia?

Britain wanted to protect interests in India Russia wanted to protect southern frontier

Spheres of Influence
Russia operated in the North and Britain in the south Oil discovered in 1900s Both persuaded Iranian government to grant concessions or special economic rights and sent troops into Iran