The Age of Imperialism

Chapter 27

Section 1-The Scramble for Africa

Africa Before European Domination

• Imperialism-The seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country

• Africa Before Europeans Arrived– African’s were divided into hundreds of

ethnic and linguistic groups

– Spoke over 1,000 different languages

– Followed either traditional beliefs, Christianity or Islam

Africa Before European Domination

• Nations Compete for Overseas Empires– By 1880 European’s only controlled 10%

of Africa

– African’s controlled their own trade networks and supplied the goods• The Chokwe collected ivory and beeswax

– Original settlers were missionaries, explorers and humanitarians• They learned about Africa through travel

books and newspapers

Driving Forces Behind Imperialism • The race for African colonies grew out

of a strong sense of nationalism – European nations were determined to plant

their flag on as much land as possible

• Racism-The belief that one race is superior to another

• Social Darwinism-The races fittest for survival enjoyed wealth and success b/c they were superior to others

Driving Forces Behind Imperialism

• Forces Promoting Imperialism in Africa– Europe’s technological superiority

– The Maxim Gun• Worlds 1st automatic machine gun

– The Steam engine • Allowed European’s to travel deeply

into the jungles

– A variety of languages and cultures discouraged unity among the tribes

The Division of Africa

• Colonization began around 1880– Diamonds were discovered in 1867 and

gold in 1886 so, no European powers wanted to be left out

• Berlin Conference-To prevent war 14 European Nations met to lay down the rules for dividing up Africa– A country could claim land by notifying

other nations and showing they were in control

Three Groups Clash Over South Africa

• Africans, Dutch and English clashed over African resources– Zulus Fight the British • 1816 Zulu chief Shaka and

his men used spears and shields nearly defeats the British– After losing the Battle of

Ulundi in 1879 the Zulu nation fell under British control

Three Groups Clash Over South Africa

• Boers and British Settle in the Cape – Boers were Dutch

farmers who gradually took more African land • To escape the British the

Boers headed north from the Cape of Good Hope and soon found themselves fighting the Zulus

Three Groups Clash Over South Africa

• The Boer War – Boers tried to keep foreigners

out and away from diamonds and gold began to fight with the English for control of land • Over 14,000 South African died

in concentration camps

• In 1910, the Boer republics joined a self-governing Union of South Africa

Bell WorkMonday 5/05

Look in your book beginning on page 786 and begin reading to find the answers

• 1. What are geopolitics?

• 2. How did Muhammad Ali direct the shift of Egyptian agriculture?

• 3. Why did Great Britain want to control the Suez Canal?

Section 3-Europeans Claim Muslim Lands

Ottoman Empire Loses Power

• The Ottomans Failed Reforms-– In 1789 Selim III came to power

and tried to modernize the Ottoman army but the older janissaries resisted • He was overthrown and his reform

movements were abandoned

• As other countries gained independence the Ottomans continued to lose territory

Europeans Grab Territory

• Geopolitics-An interest in or taking of lands for it’s strategic location or products– Europeans desire to the

Ottomans territory was its downfall

Europeans Grab Territory • Crimean War-War that broke out

between the Russians and the Ottomans over the land surrounding the Black Sea– Russia wanted a warm-weather port

– France and England joined on the side of the Ottomans and helped defeat Russia

– 1st war were women established themselves as army nurses and was covered by correspondents

Europeans Grab Territory

• “The Great Game”-The geopolitical conflicts between Britain and Russia over British controlled India

Egypt Initiates Reform • Military and Economic Reforms in Egypt – Muhammad Ali emerged as Egypt's leader after

he broke away from the Ottomans • Beginning in 1831 he launched a series of battles

that netted Syria and Arabia

• He also shifted Egyptian agriculture to one based on cotton and other cash crops

• Suez Canal-Canal that connect the Red Sea and the Mediterranean– Cost $450 million which the Egyptians

ultimately couldn’t repay

Bell WorkTuesday 5/06

Look in your book beginning on page 791 and begin reading to find the answers

• 1. Why did Britain consider India the “Jewel in it’s crown”?

• 2. Why didn’t Indians unite against the British in the Sepoy Mutiny?

• 3. What form did British rule take under the Raj?

Section 4-British Imperialism in India

British Expand Control Over India

• British Economic Interest in India– Began in the 1600’s

with the East India Company (Britain) • From 1757 to 1858 they

were leading power in India

• Sepoys-Indian military soldiers

British Expand Control Over India

• India was considered the “jewel in the crown”– Britain saw India as its

most important colony and valued India’s potential more than it’s actual profit at first

British Expand Control Over India

• British policy was designed so the Indian economy couldn’t operate on it’s own– India had to produce raw

materials and buy English manufactured goods

– Indian competition with English goods was prohibited

British Expand Control Over India

• Negative Impact of Colonialism-– British restricted Indian-owned

industries • This leads to a loss of self-sufficiency for

many villages

• The switch to cash crops led to famines in the late 1800’s

– Britain adopted a hands-off policy towards religion and social customs• Missionaries and racist officials

threatened traditional Indian life

British Expand Control Over India

• Positive Impact of Colonialism-– The third largest railroad network

was built in India • This allowed India to-

– Develop a modern economy – Brought unity by connecting regions

– Other Positive Impacts included• Telegraph and telephone lines, dams,

bridges and irrigation canals were built• Schools and Universities were built• Sanitation greatly improved

The Sepoy Mutiny

• 1857-Rumors spread that the cartridges of the Sepoy’s new rifles were greased with pork and beef fat– You would have to bite off the

ends to use them and this was seen as a huge insult resulting in 85 of the 90 Sepoy soldiers refusing to take them • Pork against Islamic beliefs • Hindus viewed Cows as sacred creatures

– Soldiers who refused were jailed – May 10th, 1857 the soldiers marched to

and captured the city of Delhi

The Sepoy Mutiny

• The Sepoy Mutiny marked a turning point in India’s history– The British took direct

command of India in 1858

– The Raj-Refers to British rule of India beginning during the reign of Queen Victoria

– The mutiny increased distrust between the British and the Indians

Nationalism Surfaces in India

• Early 1800’s-Indians began demanding modernization and a greater role in their own governing

• Ram Mohun Roy saw a need for India to move towards more modern practices– Saw India’s Caste system and

arranged marriages as reasons outside forces were still ruling India

Nationalism Surfaces in India

• Two Nationalist Parties formed in India – Indian National Congress in 1885 and the

Muslim League in 1906• Both groups called for self-government in India

• 1905-Bengal Province Divided– Too large to govern so it was divided into a

Hindu section and a Muslim section • Separated by religion it made it hard for them to

unite for independence from Great Britain

• Britain re-divided the territory in 1911