0
Originally it was because South Africa was strategically placed half way between Europe and Asia along the trade route, so trade ships travelling to the East had a really good place to get fresh supplies.
Later it was because of the gold and diamonds.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoFor all sorts of reasons, from the understandable to the outright wierd - it's important to understand not all colonising was done by the government. I'm going to try and keep this short. So:-
Firstly to get hold of important points on the route to India - the Cape and various little bits in the west. Later Eygpt for the land that would become the Suez Canal - although they took over rather than colonised.
Secondly to get hold of areas of useful settling land - expanding from the Cape north - genuine colonies sometimes other times just mad people (see C Rhodes)
Third for raw materials - Diamonds and gold in the south, Rubber and other goods in the middle - leading to taking over some other colonies (see the Boer states).
Fourth for slaves - Actually Britain wasn't big on colonizing for slavers mostly they bult forts and encouraged the local tribes trade slaves to them - this was not a government thing as much as a private venture - later they destroyed slave forts (their own and other countries) and actually set up a colony (Serria Leone) for and of "freed slaves"
Fifth and this is the big one int he 1800's - Prestige! To stop other major powers getting there first and threatening British interests, there were various little spats with the French and Germans and Italians and Portugese and Spanish and Dutch and "native" Kingdoms like the Zulus and Eygpt and Sudan and ... it kinda goes on.
Sixth and this kinda ties to Fifth - "The White Man's Burden" (See Kipling - although he was actually talking about the US colonising the Philippines) - there was a very Victorian idea about "helping out" which normally meant taking over peoples countries converting them to Christians, stamping out their way of life and trying to make good little subjects of them. This did not always work. Sometimes they got Railways out of it.
Also Mr Rhodes had this idea about a railway from Cape Colony to Cairo and the fact that all the land in the middle wasn't actually his didn't seem to matter to him.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThey imperialized Africa for economical reasons... They did because Africa has a lot of mines , and they're naturally wealthy because of their diamonds... etc.. :)
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThey took control to exploit the position as a southern military base and also to exploit the natural wealth of the area.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Where did the British colonize south Africa?
In the South
Where and when did british first colonize africa?
The British colonised parts of South Africa in the 1860's and 1870's.
Which two continents did the British begin to colonize in the 17th century?
In the 17th century, the British began to colonize North America and South America. It would not be until the 19th century that the British would acquire large land-holdings in Africa and Asia.
Why did British colonize Zambia?
Because Cecil Rhodes had a vision of Great Britain governing Africa. He was a primary mover for colonisation of central Africa,
Does Malaysia still been colonize?
British colonize but not anymore does him.
Why did the British colonize most of Southern Africa?
my guess is: Christianity, warm weather, rich resources, tea and spices, more land.
Why did the British colonize the gold coast?
an
Did the Germans colonize Africa?
Chris Stone
When did Europens colonize Africa?
1600'S1600'S
Why is french not an official language of South Africa?
Because the French did not colonize South Africa.
Why did the British want to colonize?
For the "working poor" of London.
did the Greeks help Spain to colonize?
The Greeks provided no assistance to Spain's attempts to colonize the Americas, parts of Asia, or Africa.
