Why was Africa imperialized?

Answer 1

Europe engaged in a period of expansion during the late 1800s known as the New Imperialism, largely, though not entirely, centered on Africa. Causes included:

-- Economics. Though not the only cause, a search for new markets and new Natural Resources, certainly contributed to the European expansion during this era. For instance, after the invention of the rubber bicycle tire, rubber became a sought-after commodity, leading to the subjugation of the Congo by King Leopold II of Belgium.

-- Prestige Nationalism. European governments tried to distract their own populace from internal problems and inspire patriotism by outdoing their European rivals on the world stage. This meant, among other things, having a bigger and more exciting empire.

-- Chauvinistic Nationalism. In the wake of the Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection, some Europeans (notably *not* Charles Darwin himself) began to think the process of natural selection could be used to explain variations in human populations, specifically among the races. This was known as Social Darwinism, and was used to explain why white Europeans seemed to be on top. Seeing themselves as the fittest race, Europeans felt both a right and an obligation to "help" races they saw as inferior (whether those native populations wanted help or not!) Missionary activity which spread Christianity but also encouraged the abandonment of native customs and dress was a common form of chauvinistic nationalism.

-- Adventure. Writers like Rudyard Kipling telling tales of adventure that took place in exotic colonial locales, newspaper reports of Indiana-Jones-like adventurers competing to fill in what Europeans saw as blanks on the map, harrowing tales of missionaries alone and unafraid among natives whose savagery was often exaggerated to inspire larger donations, and collectors cards of British colonial troops in colorful costumes suited to each climate, Imperialism certainly seemed exciting . . . at least if you were reading about it back home in Europe!

Answer 2

There can be several reasons for Imperialism. Firstly, conquering colonies is an excellent way for small countries or countries with few natural resources to get more of what they need to become more powerful, or to gain commodities cheaply which can be sold at a profit. This is why colonies in Africa, South America, and the West Indies were so desirable.

Secondly, colonies have strategic value in helping to raise armies or defend key areas such as resources or trade routes. The British colony of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea is an example of this.

Another reason may be to bolster public opinion at home. Fascist dictatorships relied on military victories and spectacle to keep their citizens content; an example of this is Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935. Even countries which were far more democratic could be susceptible to this kind of nationalism.

Finally, many imperialist countries, such as Britain during its time as an empire, genuinely believed that, by administering these 'backward' countries, they were spreading civilization and doing the native inhabitants of their colonies a favor. Although today we generally think of such attitudes as naive at best or arrogant and racist at worst, in the past such ideas were mainstream, and we cannot judge the values of the past by modern standards.

Answer 3

Many European countries wanted to control Africa because of its wealth in rich minerals and raw materials. During the Industrial Revolution, the demands for raw materials (such as wood and cotton) were increasing.

Answer 4

Reasons included the desire to make money, to expand and control foreign trade, to create new markets for products, to acquire raw materials and cheap labor, to compete for investments and resources, and to export industrial technology and transportation methods.

Answer 5

European imperialism in Africa started with the Berlin Conference of 1884. Belgium had colonial ambitions in the Congo, but Britain and France ended up in control of most of the continent.

Answer 6

They wanted to