Imperialism

Imperialism

How can we explain the European conquest of Africa after 1870?

Imperialism is where a country gains control over another country and establish political and economical domination.

Europe has always been interested in Africa. Before the 1870s the European countries got slaves from Africa but other than that was the connection with Africa very modest. At that time was less than 1/10th of the African territory under European influence and that only contained coastal regions. They were placed there so ships that were on its way to India could be filled up with new supply for the voyage. This pattern changed after the 1870's. Africa was parted in less than 40 years between the European countries and less than 1/10th remained unconquered after 1914.

There were many benefits for the European countries by conquering parts of Africa. One of these was the economic prospects. There were many explorations in Africa at that time, and explores saw this as a way to pay for the travel or even make a profit from them. The countries that sent these explores were more interested in finding new material, goods or to make investments and make profit. Leopold II of Belgium had an obvious economic and personal motive to conquer Congo, but it was also an attempt to make Belgium noticed as an impressive country. He conquered it mainly to get the economic gain of the found ivory and rubber but many other countries were jealous that he occupied Congo and it resulted in the Berlin Conference. The Berlin Conference settled some ground rules for the European countries claim on African countries.

Another big factor that had an influence in European countries conquest of Africa is politics and national rivalry. Every country in Europe tried to get their share of Africa and especially relatively Ð''new' countries like Belgium, Germany and Italy wanted territory and status to show off with their new empire. The scramble for Africa began by the political rivalry between Britain and France in Egypt. Egypt was very important for Britain because the Suez Canal made a shortcut to India but since the Suez Canal was built by the