Backgrounds

• The process of Colonization of Africa had begun much before any part of the world.
• From the 1500 onwards, many points on the African Coasts were occupied by the maritime nations of Europe.
• But it is also true that Africa was the last habitable Continent to be colonized by European powers.
• For a long time, Africa was regarded as the Dark Continent and not much known about its people and natural resources.
• When explorations of 1900 revealed the unlimited industrial potentialities that lay hidden and buried in Africa, the Industrial interests demanded that these resources should be exploited and scramble for colonies in Africa started.
• Scramble for Africa took place during the latter half of the 1900. Up to that time not much was known about interiors of Africa to the outside world.
• Till the 19th century, the world had many territories for European Power to acquire and in that Scenario Europeans naturally had little time and resources for the Dark Continent of the World.
• It is only after European ran short of new territories to acquire, they turned their attention towards Africa.
• The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 increased the importance of the Continent of Africa and a race started among the European powers for expansion in that Continent.
• By the last quarter of the 1900 significant advancements had taken place in scientific advancements. These technological advantages were put to use to make the task of colonization of Africa possible.
• Invention of Steam Boats made navigation of African rivers safer and easier.
• The Successful extraction of Quinine from the bark of the Cinchona tree made it possible to tackle the threat of Malaria Epidemic for the Europeans and exploring interiors of Africa.
• Inventions of waterproof bullets in the Second half of the nineteenth century also boosted the prospect of European powers in the Colonization of Africa.
• Political factors also contributed significantly in starting the process of Colonization of Africa. Leopold II, king of Belgium, took keen interest in African affairs.
• He summoned, in 1876, an International Conference of Geographers from all parts of the world to consider ways and means for the exploration and civilization of Africa.
• Suggestions were invited for opening the interior of Africa for industry and commerce. An International African Association was set up in 1876.
• It was a private holding company disguised as an international scientific and philanthropic association (International African Association).
• The Voyages of Henry Stanley directed the attention of the African Association to the Congo. Stanley was approached by King Leopold II.
• The king spoke of his intention to introduce western civilization and bring religion to that part of Africa, but did not mention the fact that he wanted to claim the lands.
• At the end of his life, the king was embittered by the growing perception that his establishment of a Congo Free State was mitigated by its unscrupulous government.
• As the enterprise was financed by king Leopold himself as an individual. The Congo Free State became the personal monopoly of King Leopold himself.
• His successes inspired the other European Nations to jump in the process of colonization of Africa.
• Both Portugal and France also put forward their claims to the Congo.
• Many European nations sent their agents to the various parts of Africa to acquire concessions.
• Separate treaties were entered into with the native chiefs and thus spheres of influence were acquired.
• During the 1880s the conflicts had started erupting among the European powers over the issues of capturing colonies in Africa.
• In 1881, France captured Tunisia which was being eyed by Italy. In 1882, Britain established its control over Egypt.
• To eliminate the possibility of any European conflict over issues of colonies in Africa, a conference was held at Berlin in 1884-85.
• In this Conference, most of the European powers participated and here rules of engagement in Africa were laid down so that African territories could be divided among European powers peacefully.
• In this conference, most of the agreements made with the native chiefs up to that time were also recognized.
• After the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, the scramble for Africa commenced and within the next three decades the whole of African Continent had been captured by the European colonizers.
• The colonization of Africa was very rapid. Within three decades of the Berlin Conference, almost the whole of Africa had been captured by the European Colonizer, with the exception of Ethiopia and Liberia.
• In case of other continents, the process of colonization was slow and a long drawn out process spanning across centuries.