Imperialism in Africa: To what extent did imperialism impact Africa?
Before imperialism, Africa was divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups but how was Africa divided into the 54 countries that we know today? In the 1800s, industrialization began in many European nations. They all wanted resources to fuel their industrial production and Africa was seen as a great source of raw materials and as a market for industrial products. Thus began European imperialism over Africa. Imperialism being the seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country. Throughout most of Africa, stronger countries dominated the political, economic, and social life of the weaker countries. The effect of imperialism in Africa was positive because …show more content…
A formal education is classroom based and provided by trained teachers. In Imperialism Case Study: Nigeria it states, “Humanitarian efforts in some colonies improved sanitation and brought hospitals and schools.” Before imperialism, knowledge, skills and attitudes were passed from generation to generation mostly through word of mouth in the African societies. The introduction of schools in Africa gave the people a physical place to go to for a formal and proper education. Most of what they learned was required for their survival. However, in the new schools, they were taught a western education which included literature and mathematics. Africans had the chance to go to school and learn how to read and write which explains why “literacy rates improved.” (Imperialism Case Study: Nigeria) Formal education gave Africans new knowledge and skills that allowed them to prosper. The new form of education also allowed Africans to make scientific and technological progress in areas of medicine, mathematics, metallurgy, ceramics, textile, food processing and building technology. “As a result, life spans increased” (Imperialism Case Study: Nigeria), new medicine was introduced, advances in transportation and communication were made, etc. Altogether, the introduction of a formal education in Africa improved the lives of Africans in multitudinous ways. News goods and products were also …show more content…
“The European nations divided the continent with little thought about how African ethnic or linguistic groups were distributed.” (The Scramble for Africa) This means that European nations divided Africa without paying attention to the different groups/tribes that populated the areas they divided or brought together. In The Berlin Conference, it states that the Europeans “divided coherent groups of people and merged together disparate groups who really did not get along.” The hundreds of different ethnic and linguistic groups that populated Africa had kinship and rival groups. Europeans separated groups that got along and united those that had been long-term rivals. As a result, problems were created in many African colonies. Civil conflicts began between rival groups in the same colony increasing the violence all around Africa. Some of these conflicts can still be seen in Africa to this day. Under European rule, colonialism was able to reduce conflict but at the same time, it made the conflict between rival tribes even worse by bringing them together. Impacting Africa in a negative way. Despite the unnatural division of Africa, imperialism had a positive effect on Africa because of the political peace it established, formal education it offered to Africans, and economy
Before imperialism, Africa was divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups but how was Africa divided into the 54 countries that we know today? In the 1800s, industrialization began in many European nations. They all wanted resources to fuel their industrial production and Africa was seen as a great source of raw materials and as a market for industrial products. Thus began European imperialism over Africa. Imperialism being the seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country. Throughout most of Africa, stronger countries dominated the political, economic, and social life of the weaker countries. The effect of imperialism in Africa was positive because …show more content…
A formal education is classroom based and provided by trained teachers. In Imperialism Case Study: Nigeria it states, “Humanitarian efforts in some colonies improved sanitation and brought hospitals and schools.” Before imperialism, knowledge, skills and attitudes were passed from generation to generation mostly through word of mouth in the African societies. The introduction of schools in Africa gave the people a physical place to go to for a formal and proper education. Most of what they learned was required for their survival. However, in the new schools, they were taught a western education which included literature and mathematics. Africans had the chance to go to school and learn how to read and write which explains why “literacy rates improved.” (Imperialism Case Study: Nigeria) Formal education gave Africans new knowledge and skills that allowed them to prosper. The new form of education also allowed Africans to make scientific and technological progress in areas of medicine, mathematics, metallurgy, ceramics, textile, food processing and building technology. “As a result, life spans increased” (Imperialism Case Study: Nigeria), new medicine was introduced, advances in transportation and communication were made, etc. Altogether, the introduction of a formal education in Africa improved the lives of Africans in multitudinous ways. News goods and products were also …show more content…
“The European nations divided the continent with little thought about how African ethnic or linguistic groups were distributed.” (The Scramble for Africa) This means that European nations divided Africa without paying attention to the different groups/tribes that populated the areas they divided or brought together. In The Berlin Conference, it states that the Europeans “divided coherent groups of people and merged together disparate groups who really did not get along.” The hundreds of different ethnic and linguistic groups that populated Africa had kinship and rival groups. Europeans separated groups that got along and united those that had been long-term rivals. As a result, problems were created in many African colonies. Civil conflicts began between rival groups in the same colony increasing the violence all around Africa. Some of these conflicts can still be seen in Africa to this day. Under European rule, colonialism was able to reduce conflict but at the same time, it made the conflict between rival tribes even worse by bringing them together. Impacting Africa in a negative way. Despite the unnatural division of Africa, imperialism had a positive effect on Africa because of the political peace it established, formal education it offered to Africans, and economy