The ability and power of Africa was unknown. No country knew of this “dark” continent, the people who occupied it, and the resources that could be obtained. Thus, the commencement of exploration into Africa. The novels Tools of Empire by Daniel R. Headrick and King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild, exhibit the effects of explorations in Africa. These two novels portray the ground work in which Africa was established and maintained. Some common themes among these novels are African colonization, technology and imperialism. Also, the stimulating effects of technology and imperialism. Technology brought power which instilled fear and terror in the inhabitants of Africa. Western superiority allowed for technology and imperialism to be the leading causes of exploitation and domination in Africa. Headrick wrote in an analytical style in order to perceive his argument. Headrick wrote about two events that changed the world: the progress and power of industrial technology and the domination and exploitation of Africa. These two events led Headrick to his argument that the highest achievement of European civilization was due to technology. Also, there was a constant feedback between technology and imperialism; technology and imperialism were closely associated. Different motives led to different causes and effect of African influence. Headrick discusses three crucial stages of colonization in Africa: penetration and exploration, conquest and imposition of European rule, and integration. The first stage developed the use of steamboats which later turned into gunboats and the development of quinine. For instance, “the Nemesis sank or captured several junks; the rest were frightened off.” The Nemesis’s motive was to cause a shift in trade from China to Europe. Also, as an effect, navigation had increasingly improved. The second stage created the arms gap among modern guns which included breech loading rifles, maxim machine guns, and steel to barrel manufacture. “The British had become interested in machine guns and had purchased a number of .45 caliber Gatlings” which signifies the arm gap because other countries had limited access to iron and did not have the means to produce these guns. This allowed Europe to dominate and conquer land in Africa. The third stage developed steam, integrated efficient steam ships, opened the Suez Canal, developed the submarine cable, and introduced railways in Africa. Communication allowed for empires to expand through improved transport networks, “cables were an essential part of the new imperialism.” As one can see, technology and imperialism benefitted one another and aided in the colonization of Africa. Hochschild wrote in a narrative style, describing individuals and their territories more in depth.
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Hochschild argued that King Leopold was guilty of crimes against humanity due to his plan to obtain territory illegally in Africa for exploitation. Also, Leopold, may have been the “main” person behind these crimes, but there were many other people who acted in criminal behavior. For instance, Henry Morton Stanley used “the latest rifles and an elephant gun with exploding bullets” when exploring the continent.” For Stanley, combat was always apart of exploration in order to show his power and to instill fear in the inhabitants of Africa. As one can see, Hochschild supports his argument through his characters’ actions. Headrick’s argument correlates with that of Hochschild’s because both novels integrate technology and imperialism being the two driving forces that allowed these European countries to exploit and obtain territory in Africa. Headrick wrote that “the Niger River was the earliest and most active use of steamers by the Europeans” that allowed Europeans to navigate and map out the coasts of Africa. The steamboats were evolving into bigger engines, which made voyages quicker, and more durable in holding defensive weaponry. Thus, making European influences much more powerful and fearful for indigenous people. Headrick’s argument supports Hochschild’s ideas because Headrick’s points about technology and imperialism being closely related allowed for Leopold to dominate and exploit in Africa. Hochschild states, “the awesomely high death rate for Europeans in the African tropics began to drop,” due to the technology of quinine. Indigenous people were immune to African diseases, yet Europeans were deadly attracted by these diseases. The use of quinine was significantly important for Europeans in order to fight off malaria. The introduction of
Hochschild argued that King Leopold was guilty of crimes against humanity due to his plan to obtain territory illegally in Africa for exploitation. Also, Leopold, may have been the “main” person behind these crimes, but there were many other people who acted in criminal behavior. For instance, Henry Morton Stanley used “the latest rifles and an elephant gun with exploding bullets” when exploring the continent.” For Stanley, combat was always apart of exploration in order to show his power and to instill fear in the inhabitants of Africa. As one can see, Hochschild supports his argument through his characters’ actions. Headrick’s argument correlates with that of Hochschild’s because both novels integrate technology and imperialism being the two driving forces that allowed these European countries to exploit and obtain territory in Africa. Headrick wrote that “the Niger River was the earliest and most active use of steamers by the Europeans” that allowed Europeans to navigate and map out the coasts of Africa. The steamboats were evolving into bigger engines, which made voyages quicker, and more durable in holding defensive weaponry. Thus, making European influences much more powerful and fearful for indigenous people. Headrick’s argument supports Hochschild’s ideas because Headrick’s points about technology and imperialism being closely related allowed for Leopold to dominate and exploit in Africa. Hochschild states, “the awesomely high death rate for Europeans in the African tropics began to drop,” due to the technology of quinine. Indigenous people were immune to African diseases, yet Europeans were deadly attracted by these diseases. The use of quinine was significantly important for Europeans in order to fight off malaria. The introduction of