The Scramble for Africa - Video Notes Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Scramble for Africa lecture notes, including the Berlin Conference, reasons for colonisation, effects on Africa, resistance, and the legacy.

What was the Scramble for Africa?

The late 19th-century competition by European powers to conquer, divide and colonise the African continent.

By 1914, which seven European countries had claimed parts of Africa, and which areas remained independent?

Britain, France, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain; Ethiopia and Liberia remained independent.

What does the term 'scramble' mean in this context?

To compete frantically in order to get something others want.

What was the Berlin Conference (1884–1885) and why is it important?

A meeting where European powers decided how to divide Africa, without African participation, shaping Africa's borders.

Who invited the Berlin Conference and what was his role?

German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck organized the conference.

What is colonisation?

The occupation and control of one nation by another, including taking land and people.

How many colonies did Africa become divided into by the end of colonisation according to the notes?

About 46 colonies.

What are the four main reasons for European colonisation (as shown in the spider diagram)?

Growth of nationalism in Europe; discovery of quinine; search for raw materials and profits; Christian missionaries.

Why was quinine crucial for European activity in Africa?

It treated malaria, reducing deaths and allowing Europeans to live in and move into Africa.

What kinds of raw materials did Europeans seek from Africa?

Cotton, ivory, rubber, diamonds, gold and vegetable oils (also cocoa and coffee).

What role did the machine gun play in colonisation?

The Maxim gun could fire 11 bullets per second, giving Europeans a military advantage; Africans often lacked access to such weapons.

Which three European powers took the largest shares of Africa during the Scramble?

Britain, France and Germany.

What do 'empire' and 'colony' mean in this context?

Empire: a group of lands ruled by a single government; Colony: a territory controlled by a foreign power as part of that empire.

What were some consequences of colonial borders in Africa?

Artificial borders; unstable and sometimes conflicting borders drawn by colonisers that affected political/economic stability.

What was the Maji-Maji rebellion (1905) and its outcome?

A major rebellion in German East Africa; Kinjikitile's water prophecy; brutal German counteroffensive; about 75,000 deaths by 1907.

What role did missionaries play in colonisation according to the notes?

Spread Christianity and European customs; often did not understand local cultures; contributed to colonial control and cultural change.

What is racism in the context of colonialism?

The belief that whites are superior and Africans inferior, used to justify exploitation and discrimination.

What is meant by the 'legacy' of colonialism?

Long-lasting effects after independence, including land ownership, labor patterns, and borders that shape today’s Africa.

What does Source A’s Desmond Tutu quote illustrate?

Missionaries arrived with the Bible while Africans lost land, illustrating criticism of colonisation.

What does the African leader's message to European soldiers (Machemba) convey?

Affirmation of sovereignty; refusal to obey outsiders—“I am in charge here in my land.”

What caused many Africans to be unable to resist colonisation in the late 19th century, besides weapons?

Natural disasters (drought, locusts) and cattle plague weakened populations; disease exposure and lack of immunity also increased vulnerability.

What is meant by artificial borders, and why is it important sense here?

Borders drawn by colonisers without regard to local realities, leading to instability and conflicts; many African borders were inherited or altered post-colonial period.