History of Colonial Africa
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Perspective
The history of colonial Africa began with the arrival of the Portuguese. They were the first Europeans to enter the slave trade in the late 15th century. They traded for slaves at first, and for 400 years, they limited their involvement to trading stations on the African coast. From there, they sent slaves to Europe, often as household servants, and later to Brazil as plantation slaves. Few slave traders dared venture inland from the coast, deterred by disease and hostile tribes in the interior. But technology helped to overcome these obstacles. Increasingly lethal weaponry was developed that included repeating rifles, the Maxim machine gun, and artillery. And the discovery in 1854 of quinine provided an effective preventative of malaria. Diseases such as yellow fever, sleeping sickness, leprosy, yaws, and most of all, malaria, made Africa a very challenging environment for Europeans.
There were compelling motives for Europe’s conquest of Africa. Raw materials were needed for the industries of the Industrial Revolution. The prestige of owning African colonies showed strength to rivals, and missionaries spread Christianity. This culminated in the Scramble for Africa among European empires in the 19th century, whether for raw materials, strategic prominence, or as part of an effort to develop enduring colonies.
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Index
Colonial Africa Index | Society: European Primary • Change | Religion: Christianity • Spirit Churches • Islam in Africa: Jihad | Power: Governance • Economic and Social Change • Scramble for Africa: France and Britain • Resistance | Slavery: Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade • Kingdom of Asante • Kingdom of Dahomey • Kingdom of Kongo • Kingdom of Ndongo • Kingdom of Oyo • End to the Slave Trade | Pre-World War I | World War II | British Colonies | Challenge to Colonial Rule | Shaka Zulu • Independence Movements | Pan-Africanism | African National Congress | Economy | East Africa: Power: Polities • Progression | Ethiopia: Religion • Power: Revival • Disintegration | Kenya | Central Africa | North Africa | Southern Africa: Society • Power: Colonization • Moshoeshoe | West Africa
Colonial Africa: Index
Society
Society: European Primacy
Society: Change
Religion
Religion: Spirit Churches
Religion: Christianity
Religion: Islam in Africa
Islam in Africa: Jihad
Power
Power: Governance
Power: Social and Economic Change
Power: Scramble for Africa
Scramble for Africa: France and Britain
Scramble for Africa: Resistance
Power: Slavery
Slavery: Transatlantic Slave Trade
Slavery: Kingdom of Asante
Slavery: Kingdom of Dahomey
Slavery: Kingdom of Kongo
Slavery: Kingdom of Ndongo
Slavery: Kingdom of Oyo
Slavery: End of the Slave Trade
Power: Colonial Rule Pre-World War I
Power: World War II
Power: British Colonies
Power: Challenge to Colonial Rule
Power: Shaka Zulu
Power: Independence Movements
Power: Pan-Africanism
Power: African National Congress
Economy
East Africa
East Africa: Power
Power: Polities
Power: Progression
East Africa: Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Religion
Ethiopia: Power
Power: Revival
Power: Disintegration
East Africa: Kenya
Central Africa
North Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Society
Southern Africa: Power
Power: Colonization
Power: Moshoeshoe
West Africa