Scramble for Africa
The Scramble for Africa, also called the Race for Africa was a time in history when colonial expansion in Africa became rapid. It lasted from the 1880s until the beginning of World War I. Many European countries started colonies in Africa during this time. This was a new Imperialism. The last half of the 19th century saw a change in the way countries controlled their colonies. In the old imperialism, Europeans only had direct control over small coastal areas. Now they changed from economic control by settlement, to political and military control of the colony's resources. This was seen in the fight for areas that were controlled by European nations.
Many people became famous for helping European countries find more land in Africa. They included the explorers David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley, and Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza as well as the French politician Jules Ferry.
The Berlin Conference (1884 - 1885) tried to end disputes between Great Britain, the French Third Republic, the German Empire, and other European countries. They agreed that "effective occupation" would be the rule for colonial claims. Laws were made for using direct rule on a colony, backed up by military power.
Other reading
- Maria Petringa, Brazza, A Life for Africa (2006) ISBN 9781-4259-11980
Scramble For Africa Media
Comparison of Africa in the years 1880 and 1913
David Livingstone, early explorer of the interior of Africa and fighter against the slave trade
The Askari colonial troops in German East Africa, c. 1906
Italian aircraft in action against Ottoman forces during the Italian invasion of Libya in the Italo-Turkish War
Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904)
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza in his version of "native" dress, photographed by Félix Nadar
Port Said entrance to Suez Canal, showing De Lesseps' statue
Otto von Bismarck at the Berlin Conference, 1884
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