Nearing the end of the 19th century, Europeans initiated an era of imperialist hostility, economic restructure, political pressure, and military invasion in Africa. The end of Europe’s participation in African slave trade left a need for commerce between the two countries. Europeans curiosity of new lands fueled the exploration of Africa to record details of location conditions, markets, goods and natural resources. The desire for a colonization, common language and secured economic and political ties in Africa was fueled by the opportunity of more monopoly for Europeans. The time period between the ending of slave trades and colonial rule became to be known as the “Scramble for Africa” when Europeans partitioned Africa into spheres of influence,
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In order to prevent this from happening, he called together the major European powers to discuss the impending complications of unregulated African colonization. This meeting became to be known as the Berlin Conference of 1884. Together they decided to condemn slave trade, prohibit the sale of liquor and firearms, and to not spread Christian faith. They also set ground rules and a drawn guided search to avoid competition of territory. Their meeting at Berlin came to symbolize the partitioning because it laid down the principals that would be used among Europeans to divide the continent. (CITE EBOOK) It also helped preserved the “status quo” by preventing conflict amongst the European nations. The Berlin Conference did not directly initiate European colonization of Africa, but it did legitimate and formalize the process. In addition, it sparked new interest in Africa. Following the close of the conference, European powers expanded their claims in Africa such that by 1900, European states had claimed nearly 90 percent of African territory. (CITE …show more content…
(CITE BOOK) Even though African citizens were not committed to resisting the colonial invasion, small episodes of resistance did break out. Some victories were scored against the Europeans but the most significant one was that of Ethiopia’s success in repulsing Italian conquest in 1896 and recognition of being an independent African state. (CITE book) Their disadvantage in resisting European power was due to the lack of intelligent battle tactics that couldn’t withstand the advanced military technology of their competitors. Most of the African societies that did resist Europe’s conquest would contemplate the benefits of European rule while considering whether or not to resist, accommodate or negotiate. The possibility of revenue and alliance from Europeans encouraged the assessment of rivalries amongst neighboring states. (CITE BOOK
In order to prevent this from happening, he called together the major European powers to discuss the impending complications of unregulated African colonization. This meeting became to be known as the Berlin Conference of 1884. Together they decided to condemn slave trade, prohibit the sale of liquor and firearms, and to not spread Christian faith. They also set ground rules and a drawn guided search to avoid competition of territory. Their meeting at Berlin came to symbolize the partitioning because it laid down the principals that would be used among Europeans to divide the continent. (CITE EBOOK) It also helped preserved the “status quo” by preventing conflict amongst the European nations. The Berlin Conference did not directly initiate European colonization of Africa, but it did legitimate and formalize the process. In addition, it sparked new interest in Africa. Following the close of the conference, European powers expanded their claims in Africa such that by 1900, European states had claimed nearly 90 percent of African territory. (CITE …show more content…
(CITE BOOK) Even though African citizens were not committed to resisting the colonial invasion, small episodes of resistance did break out. Some victories were scored against the Europeans but the most significant one was that of Ethiopia’s success in repulsing Italian conquest in 1896 and recognition of being an independent African state. (CITE book) Their disadvantage in resisting European power was due to the lack of intelligent battle tactics that couldn’t withstand the advanced military technology of their competitors. Most of the African societies that did resist Europe’s conquest would contemplate the benefits of European rule while considering whether or not to resist, accommodate or negotiate. The possibility of revenue and alliance from Europeans encouraged the assessment of rivalries amongst neighboring states. (CITE BOOK