Why Was Africa Colonised In The Years

.Why Was Africa Colonised In The Years 1870-1914. Essay, Research Paper

The period 1870-1914 saw virtually

the whole of Africa come under the direct rule of a handful of European

colonial states. Compared to previous forays, penetration into Africa occurred

at a rapid rate with relatively little cost to the European states. This rapid

expansion has been attributed to many factors . some of which are explored in

this essay.At the time, Europe.s strength

stemmed from a massive increase in industrial capacity and the invention and

refinement of technology and medicine. (the production of steel increased

twenty-fold from 1870 to 1890). 1 Iron hulled steamships allowed

Colonialists to venture further inland, protected by large artillery and aided

by swift movement. Improved muskets and machine guns gave decisive advantages

to European forces over indigenous people. Developments in railways and telegraphs

allowed efficient control of vast areas.By 1914 only Ethiopia remained

independent with much of the continent being divided by French or British rule.

A large proportion of western and central Africa belonged to French, including

Algeria, Morocco, Senegal and Gabon. In fact, the French controlled the largest

amount of land in Africa (over three million square miles). The British

controlled much of east and southern Africa, including Egypt, Sudan, Rhodesia

and South Africa. Germany controlled Kamerun (Cameroon) and South West Africa,

with Belgium having sovereignty over the Congo.The issue of motivation for

European colonisation of Africa has been a greatly debated issue between

historians from across the political spectrum. The liberal-socialist view is

that colonialism was a direct result of capitalist doctrine and an extension of

monopoly capitalism . essentially that pursuit of new markets and fresh

resources drove colonialist expansion.2 The opposing view is

characterised by a denial of any economic considerations in the decisions to

colonise foreign lands with the motivation lying in nationalistic sentiments

and political manouvering.3Although both points of view have

some merit, neither fully explains the motivations completely. This is due to a

fragmented view of the facts . either a purely economical or purely political

view. A fuller picture can be ascertained by further investigation.The Economic View The widespread availability of

reliable transport such as merchant shipping helped facilitate globalisation

and world trade, which in turn stimulated greater demand for tropical goods.

New technology depended on materials found mainly in remote areas. Products

such as cotton and indigo for cloth, oil and rubber for engines and machinery,

copper and gutta-percha for electric and telegraph lines, and tin for canned

foods.Africa had much of this wealth from

rubber in the Congo, to copper in Zambia to gold and diamonds in South Africa.Due to the growth of mass

consumption and the increase in disposable income that come with the greater

industrialisation, the demand for .colonial goods. rose sharply with tea,

coffee, sugar, cocoa and tropical fruits being consumed in greater quantities.

Although originally supplied to western buyers by non-western producers at the

beginning of the 19th century, supply was unable to meet demand. By

the end of the century, after wars of conquest, the colonialists had control of

the areas and worked to increase production and lower costs by applying western

industrial and scientific techniques. .the European may come, in

small numbers, with his capital, his energy and his knowledge to develop most

lucrative commerce and obtain products necessary to the use of his advanced

civilisation. 4 The search for markets can be a

factor in the motives for colonial expansion. Many believed the way out of

economic depression to be via massive export drives.5 Typically if a

colonising country were strong enough, it would attempt to enter the markets of

an undeveloped country by using an .open door. policy and enforced free trade

agreements. Flooding the country with less expensive mass-produced goods. .However,

if the colonising country was not able to compete with the various nations

vying in the area, then the occupation of territory would ensure that national

businesses had a distinct advantage. In this respect Hobsbawm comments:.The .new imperialism. was the natural by-product of

an international economy based on the rivalry of several competing industrial

economies, intensified by the economic pressures of 1880. 6 The Political ViewAnother motive for colonisation was for strategic ends. In order to

restrict or protect access to various territories. Gibraltar and Malta are

examples of strategic territories held to control access to the Mediterranean.British expansion in Africa has been seen by some historians as a

strategic move to protect India (the Jewel in the Briti

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