Africa in the 1800s

Flashcards about the Scramble for Africa and early 1800s Africa

What was the Scramble for Africa?

A period in the late 1800s when European powers rapidly colonized African territories.

Which European powers participated in the Scramble for Africa?

Britain, France, and Germany, among others.

How long did it take for Europeans to carve up Africa during the Scramble?

About 20 years.

Which African group resisted European conquest?

The Yao people.

How large is the continent of Africa compared to Europe?

Nearly three times the size of Europe.

What characterized African societies in the early 1800s?

Hundreds of languages and varied governments.

What types of governments existed in Africa in the early 1800s?

Large centralized states and village communities.

What geographical features characterize North Africa?

The enormous Sahara and fertile land along the Mediterranean.

Of what larger entity was North Africa a part of in the early 1800s?

The Muslim world.

Under whose rule was much of North Africa in the early 1800s?

The declining Ottoman Empire.

What religious movement spread across West Africa in the early 1800s?

An Islamic revival.

Among which people did the Islamic revival in West Africa begin?

The Fulani people in northern Nigeria.

Who was Usman dan Fodio?

A scholar and preacher who denounced the corruption of local Hausa rulers.

What type of reforms did Usman dan Fodio call for?

Social and religious reforms based on Islamic law.

What is Islamic Law called?

The Sharia.

What did Usman dan Fodio inspire the Fulani herders and Hausa townspeople to do?

To rise up against their European rulers.

What was the result of the European powers carving up the continent?

The domination of millions of Africans.

Why must we look at Africa in the early 1800s?

To understand the impact of European domination.

When is the focus in understanding Africa's state before European domination?

Before the scramble for colonies began.

In what region did the Islamic Revival begin?

Northern Nigeria.

What system is the Sharia based upon?

Islamic Law

What type of reforms based on Islamic Law did Usman dan Fodio promote?

Social and religious reforms

What could the Yao and other resisting groups not prevent?

European conquest

When did the Islamic revival spread across West Africa?

The early 1800s

Who did Usman dan Fodio denounce?

Corruption of local Hausa rulers

Who was inspired by Usman dan Fodio?

Fulani herders and Hausa townspeople

What was the state of the Ottoman Empire in the early 1800s?

Declining

Who ruled much of North Africa?

Under Ottoman Empire rule

What had people developed across Africa's regions?

Varied governments

What enormous land is located in North Africa?

Sahara