Indian and Africa

European interest in Africa-Medeival Era

Trade along the mediterranean coast

Interactions in Egypt

Gold from Mali empire

European interest in Africa-age of exploration

Portuguese and Spanish explorers navigate western coast of the continent

African slave trade started in mid-15th century

Vasco da Gama - interacted with eastern city-states on way to India (1498)

Conquered city-states on subsequent trips

Part of the larger "God, Gold, Glory" phase of this age

Little interaction other than along coastline / ports; slaves were bought / sold as a result of intertribal wars

Limits to interaction by 19th century

"Unknown" quality of most of the continent to Europeans

Difficulty in penetrating / navigating many of the forested regions south of the Sahara

Limited forms of transportation

No defense against diseases like malaria and pests like tsetse fly

Economic benefits and attention in other parts of the world

WHY DID INTERACTION INCREASE IN THE 19TH CENTURY? - THE GOOD?

Intellectual curiosity

Source of the Nile River

Missionary activity

Humanitarian activity

Discovery of quinine

Evolution in transportation and communication technology

WHY DID INTERACTION INCREASE IN THE 19TH CENTURY? - THE BAD

Industrial Revolution in Europe

Desire for resources

Expansion of markets

Nationalist competition

Military expansion

WHY DID INTERACTION INCREASE IN THE 19TH CENTURY? - THE UGLY

Racism

"Social Darwinism"

The "White Man's Burden"

Invention of Maxim Gun and Repeating Rifle

Desire for colonies

Berlin Conference

European nations began to fight for land claims in Africa in 1870s & 1880s (primarily Britain and France)

Otto von Bismarck calls a meeting to avoid larger conflict

A "Great Powers" negotiation - land divided up based on what Europeans can control / defend

19th century technology and imperialism

Discovery of quinine, europeans protected themselves from malaria.

First automatic machine gun created a strong military advantage.

Development of telagraphs, railroads, and steamships, overcoming the problems of traveling.

Suez Canal

In 1869 another technological advancement, the Suez Canal, influenced Brit- ain's interest in Egypt. The canal linked the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, drastically shortening the trip from Europe to the Indian Ocean by eliminating the need for ships to sail around the southern tip of Africa.

When the Egyptian government appeared unstable in 1882, the British occupied Egypt to protect British interests in the Suez Canal. Britain later established partial control over Egypt as a protectorate to ensure British access to the canal.

King Leopold II & Congo

Unlike most of Africa, the Congo Free State in Central Africa was not ruled by a European country. Instead, the king of Belgium, Leopold II, claimed the territory for himself. Leopold created a personal fortune by exploiting the Congo's natural resources.

In the 1890s and early 1900s in Europe and the United States, the demand for rubber increased as the need for bicycle and automo- bile tires increased. To meet this demand, Leo- pold forced his Congolese subjects to extract rubber from the region's rubber trees. Millions of workers died from overwork and disease. Eventually an international outcry over Leop- old's brutal tactics caused the Belgian govern- ment to take control of the Congo in 1908.

Menelik II and the battle of Adowa

Italy tries to make Ethiopia a "protectorate" in 1880s

Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II rejects the treaty when it has two different versions

Menelik uses Russian guns and organizes kingdoms against Italy

Victory brings Ethiopia independence and recognition

Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935 (to avenge this loss)

Maji Maji Rebellion

Revolt against German taxation and labor policies in German East Africa (Tanzania)

Men forced to work away from home and plant cotton for export

Resistors sprinkled themselves with "maji maji" (magic water) to protect themselves

German military, destruction of land and villages and famine lead to over 300,000 deaths

The Boer War

Dutch claimed South African colony in 1600s; developed agricultural colony

Conflict grows between British, Dutch farmers and South Africans in 1830s

British attempts to take "Boer's" land for mining lead to bloody guerilla fighting and British-controlled concentration camps

Britain creates "Union of South Africa" by 1910

Motives for imperialism

They looked to Africa as a source for raw materials like coal and metal. European leaders believed that controlling colonies

would gain them more respect from other leaders. European imperialists felt like they were superior to non europeans. They believed it was there job to teach the Africans good government,European customs, and christian values.

The mughal empire

Known for majestic architecture (palaces, royal tombs)

Major region of trade in Asia

Mughal leaders are Muslim in an area dominated by Hindus

Expensive wars and construction lead to high taxes and need for constant source of income

Battle of plassey

Conflict between Bengali leader and French allies and British forces

Victory gives England significant influence in important region

Promised a Bengali general a position of power if helped

British East India Company begins to establish government

Primary focus is on getting tax collection rights

British East India Company

• Received a charter in 1600

• Dominates trade in Britain’s colonies

• Operates as a government entity (establishes laws, collects taxes, maintains an army, builds roads and infrastructure

• Emphasis is on trade

• Primary items:  tea, silk, cotton, textiles, opium, spices

• Indians prevented from building factories; emphasis is on growing cash crops

• Land ownership laws changed to benefit wealthy Indians and British

  • Gives Indian landowners more power to control land in exchange for being responsible for tax collection

Sepoy Mutiny

• Indian soldiers

• Used to enforce rules and laws of BEIC

• Used to help expand British influence in Asia

• Considered a bridge / wall between BEIC and native populations

The british raj

• Britain takes direct control after the Sepoy Mutiny

• Creates more of a shift to assume economic control

  • Cotton, tea, indigo are major crops

  • Builds railroads, hospitals, schools, communication networks 

• Some Indians see opportunity, some seek compromise and representation, while many others support resistance

• Creates push for greater political voice and representation for Indians

Indian national congress and muslim league

• Initially aimed at gaining greater participation of Indians in governance under British rule.

• Later evolved into a mass movement for full independence (Purna Swaraj).

• Promoted Hindu-Muslim unity and opposed British policies.

Muslim league

Initially formed to protect Muslim rights and interests under British rule.

• Later, it advocated for a separate Muslim state (which became Pakistan).

goverment of Indian Act

long and complex text to balance locals, provincial, and national government with British ineterests. Sets up a federation government with a two house parliament and expands voting rights and still allows britain to maintain oversight and control.

Algeria

French-Inequality between the French settlers and Algerians, poverty and hunger, took best land for crop exports and sold it to settlers. Faced assimilation and racism. Islam organized oppositions, Algerian nationalists groups organized to end colonialism.

Kenya

britain-protested against tax increases, formed political groups to protest, faced heavy racial discrimination, economic disparities, political oppression, forced to be workers and laborers.

Ghana

Africans had little power in government because indirect rule prevented African professionals to adopt political roles,Formed several different political parties,Formed religious, ethnic and literary societies in the cities,Published newspapers that would become important places for political debate, owned cocoa company farmers refused to sell their cocoa wiping the gold coasts economy.

Congo

belgium- black people faced harsh working conditions and physical punishments, very segregated, couldn’t leave, couldn’t practice their religion, bad pay, no access to travel, they protested by leaving jobs because of low wages, avoid tax collectors by crossing into neighborhood colonies. withdrawinf to regions that weren’t under colonial control.