European imperialism impacted early nineteenth century Western Africa both economically and politically because of the introduction of Western ideas and new trading partners; however, despite the efforts of Christian missionaries, the religion of the region, Islam, continued to grow and evade any major impacts on the part of imperialism.
Imperial occupation of one country by another inherently causes a tidal wave of changes. Europe’s imperialistic ambitions reshaped the economies of Western Africa due to the installation of western economic policies, ideologies, and trading partners. Western Africa gained many European commercial ties, but one of the biggest changes stemmed from Great Britain's abolition of slavery in 1833. Africa was the epicenter of slave trade, and the Gold Coast of Western Africa monopolized the slave trade from the mid-18th century until its abolition. Europe’s suppression of the slave trade caused the Western to turn to legitimate trade which consisted of other highly desired, but legal, goods such as gold, ivory, and vegetable oils-most notably palm oil. The British used palm oil in the manufacture of soap, candles, and lubricants, and the extent to which the Africans exported this product altered many aspects of their lives. For example, the high demand for palm oil allowed it to completely transform the social structure of coastal African communities. Coastal traders would utilize the wealth they had accumulated from the trade of palm oil to purchase slaves to operate the large canoes that transported the palm oil and other products from inland markets to coastal trading ports. Although many considered slavery in the Niger Delta region to be brutal work, many of the slaves were well paid, and some wer...
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...nger tolerated mixing Islam with indigenous African customs. The Sokoto Caliphate created a special tax to be paid by any non-Muslims. Jihads against so called pagans led to the death, enslavement, or forced conversion of many non-Muslims, so for the first time, many Africans in rural areas practiced Islam as opposed to indigenous religions. Although Islam in Western Africa faced some internal reforms, it remained prominent and continuous in the face of European imperialism.
In the early nineteenth century, the Europeans began a wave of imperialism in Africa that would ultimately culminate in the monumental Scramble for Africa. Europe’s imperial ambitions impacted Western African economies and politics as the introduction of new ideas interrupted customs that had been in place for thousands of years, but the main religion of the region, Islam, continued to dominate.
Europe, in the late 1800’s, was starting for a land grab in the African continent. Around 1878, most of Africa was unexplored, but by 1914, most of Africa, with the lucky exception of Liberia and Ethiopia, was carved up between European powers. There were countless motivations that spurred the European powers to carve Africa, like economical, political, and socio–cultural, and there were countless attitudes towards this expansion into Africa, some of approval and some of condemnation.
Though the Atlantic Slave Trade began in 1441, it wasn’t until nearly a century later that Europeans actually became interested in slave trading on the West African coast. “With no interest in conquering the interior, they concentrated their efforts to obtain human cargo along the West African coast. During the 1590s, the Dutch challenged the Portuguese monopoly to become the main slave trading nation (“Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade”, NA). Besides the trading of slaves, it was also during this time that political changes were being made. The Europe...
Since 1500, the economies of Europe and Asia had been extending their reach overseas. With the establishment of the Atlantic system of trade, these economies exercised their mercantilist desires, America became a cultural mixing bowl, and the spread of knowledge and technology amplified. Because of this ever-increasing global interaction, between 1750 and 1870 momentous changes occurred across the world in agriculture, politics, economics, and technology. Considered one of the greatest technological eras, The Industrial Revolution took place during this period. By 1825, most colonial rule had been repulsed or abandoned, and the empires of the east deteriorated. A string of “revolutions”, political challenges and reforms by the common people, was undertaken by various groups and states in the west. The United States fought the Revolutionary War, emerging victorious, and declaring its independence from Britain. French protest also turned to revolution; the people manifested their frustration with monarchical and ecclesiastic rule and aristocratic abuses, by seeking reform and more aggressive forms of change. Slaves in Saint Domingue sought independence, banding together with free black men and whites frustrated with imperial rule to overthrow the French and create the state of Haiti. The British created an empire in the East, larger and arguably more sustainable than the 13 colonies of America. The African continent saw the rise of the Zulu, the expansion and modernization of the Egyptian empire under Khedive Muhammad Ali, and increased exchanges with Europeans, both positive and negative. As you will see, the interactions and dramatic changes of were direct results of the maritime globalization of the previ...
Throughout the 19th century, European Imperialism had a major effect on Africa. As countries expanded in terms of wealth, resources, and innovation, more territory and workers were needed. The first solution to solve these problems was to begin colonizing in Africa. The driving force for imperialism in Europe and Africa was mainly economical. This economical approach was established through many ways including cultural and nationalistic ideas.
Throughout the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, almost every country in Africa was imperialized by other countries in Europe. To imperialize is to conquer another country, whether it be in the means of politics, economics and/or culture, and control that land. The aftermath for the imperialized country was either beneficial or harmful. The amount of African countries that a European country imperialized varied. Great Britain imperialized fifteen countries in Africa, including Egypt in 1882, Sierra Leone in 1808, and the Union of South Africa in 1910. Although Great Britain’s reasons to imperialize were selfish, Britain helped each country progress afterwards.
Many factors contributed to the colonization of Africa by European powers between 1895 and 1905. Among these factors were the effects of European history, the growing capitalist economy, and the growing competition between European powers. Most important was the belief that European culture was superior to African culture. During the height of imperialism, the vast majority of the African continent was controlled by Europe (ìExtentî 19). It is important to understand what gave the momentum for European dominance at the time.
As a result of the Atlantic trade, England was able to financially prosper and foster a thriving political empire. In the aftermath of England’s success, the establishment of European colonies in the Americas aided in the quick population growth, the production of commodities and goods, and the extensive racial diverse that is only found the United States in the present day. In the midst of the successes of England and the Americas, the region of West Africa underwent the tremendously brutal system of the Atlantic Slave trade; which hindered the advancement of the region in exchange for weaponry and rum. With both positive and negative impacts on the world, the development of the Atlantic trade allowed for previous civilizations and the present world to be more interconnected and prosperous. The Atlantic trade and the impacts it had on participating civilizations fostered the relationships and structure of the global society in the 21st
The "DBQ Project" What Is the Driving Force Behind European Imperialism in Africa? (2012): 257. pp. 177-177. Print.
One major factor in beginning imperialism in Africa was the end of the slave trade because this was how Europe was making most of their money during the 18th century. If revenue was not being brought in through the slave trade, other “products” (formerly humans) had to be traded. Greed was why Europeans could overlook the “disease, political instability, lack of transportation, and the generally unhealthy climate” (Duiker & Spielvogel 620) of Africa. If some of these off-putting factors such as transportation could be changed by the Europeans occupying Africa, then why not occupy it? As commercial trade increased, European interest in Africa did also. Europeans no longer wanted to just trade with Africa, but became interested in “permanent presence along the coast” (Duiker & Spielvogel 621). The first settlements were placed along the Gold Coast and in Sierra Leone. Although the slave trade was ...
“The sun never sets on the British Empire,” Great Britain often bragged. By 1914, about 85% of the earth’s surface was colonized by Europe. Between 1884 and 1885, The Berlin Conference took place to carve up the African continent (Background Essay). Europeans saw high potential in Africa and thought the continent was empty, even though it was not. It was roughly “untouched” and they thought they could do anything they wanted (Doc.1). Great Britain’s colonization in Kenya affected the country’s religion and culture, education, and government.
The spread of Islam in Africa had taken course from a number of factors, including external and internal forces. After my analyzing of the spread of Islam in Africa, I have gather three main themes that stuck out during the expansion of Islam: Islam and trade, the conversion conditions of Islam, and the economics/political development involving Islam. These three themes provide great insight on how Islam started to spread through out Africa. Through trade the culture and religion of Islam was spread to many different areas. This correlates to the conversion of different people, which helped spread Islam. By these conversions Islam was able to establish Islamic states, which played a factor in the development of strong economic and political
Africa has had a long and tumultuous road of colonization and decolonization the rush to colonize Africa started in the 17th century with the discovery of the vast amounts of gold, diamonds, and rubber with colonization hitting a fever pitch during World War I. However, the repercussions of colonization have left deep wounds that still remain unhealed in the 21st century. Early on, European nations such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium scrambled for territories. Countries wanted land so they could harvest the resources, increase trade, and gain power. The European colonization of Africa brought racism, civil unrest, and insatiable greed; all of which have had lasting impacts on Africa.
Africa’s struggle to maintain their sovereignty amidst the encroaching Europeans is as much a psychological battle as it is an economic and political one. The spillover effects the system of racial superiority had on the African continent fractured ...
The New Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa 1880-1914. Jeff Taylor, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
An overwhelming majority of African nations has reclaimed their independence from their European mother countries. This did not stop the Europeans from leaving a permanent mark on the continent however. European colonialism has shaped modern-day Africa, a considerable amount for the worse, but also some for the better. Including these positive and negative effects, colonialism has also touched much of Africa’s history and culture especially in recent years.