The Scramble for Africa.pptVIP

The Scramble for Africa ? Student Handouts, Inc. THE “DARK” CONTINENT “Dark Continent” – racist terminology referred to both the peoples of Africa and their alleged ignorance In reality, Africa has always had diverse groups of people with their own unique cultures and histories Civilizations Languages Religions GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA Continent – not a country Continent is three times larger than Europe Northern Africa – desert Mid-to-southern Africa – diverse climates and topography FOREIGN HISTORY IN AFRICA Greeks controlled Egypt after conquest by Alexander the Great Ptolemaic dynasty Romans ruled all areas along the Mediterranean coastline, including northern Africa Mediterranean – “Roman lake” Arab traders converted many Africans to Islam from the 7th century Source of slaves for the Americas from the 17th century But little foreign interest in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa The “OPENING UP” OF AFRICA Mid-1800s Missionaries and explorers sparked foreign interest in Africa DAVID LIVINGSTONE (1813-1873) Scottish missionary 1841-1873 – lived in central Africa Explored Africa Named Lake Victoria after the British queen Converted many Africans to Christianity Wrote books on Africa which piqued foreign interest 1871 – reported “lost” “Found” by Henry Stanley “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” HENRY STANLEY (1841-1904) Welsh-American reporter “Found” Dr. Livingstone in Africa “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Explored Africa Congo River Lake Tanganyika Lake Victoria Worked with Belgium’s King Leopold II and his African colonization company International African Society KARL PETERS (1856-1918) German explorer in Africa Organized and propagandized for Germany’s colonial expansion Founded the Society for German Colonization Acquired German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania) Convinced Otto von Bismarck to take over German East Africa and increase Germany’s colonies in Africa CECIL RHODES (1853-1902) British businessman and politician in southern Africa Made a