III.

The Means: How Were the Europeans Able

to Acquire Their Empires?

1.The Effects of the Agricultural and

Industrial Revolutions in Europe
2.Europe has stabilized politically,
economically and socially.

1. The Effects of the Agricultural and

Industrial Revolutions in Europe
A. Large Population growth and expanding
industries create strong economic base =
investment for exploration and overseas
trade.
B. Development of new scientific and military
enable Europeans to explore and conquer
Africa and Asia. (the Big Three: steam
engine, quinine, and machine gun)

The Big Three:

1. steam engine
2. quinine
3. machine gun

2. By 1870s Europe has Stabilized Politically,

Economically and Socially
A.

Strong and stable governments established in major European

states: Britain, France and Germany--promote trade, business
and overseas exploration.

B.

No major wars on continent allow European powers to use

economic and military resources to explore and conquer.

C.

Nationalism: Rising European middle class supports government

policies of expansion overseas.

D.

Stable currency and rate of exchange in European countries

helps to finance colonial expansion: London becomes the world
center for finance and banking.

Think, Pair, Share

If you had to go into Africa as a Colonial
Explorer and could only take 2 of the
following items which would you take and
why?
Quinine
Machine Gun
Steam Boat

IV. The Process: What were the patterns or

phases of imperial conquest in Africa and Asia?
1. Traders
2. Explorers and Missionaries
3. Settlers and Commercial Groups
4. Native Resistance or Rebellion Brings Military
Intervention
5. Colonies Established under European Control

1. The Traders
16th through 18th centuries
Europeans establish coastal
settlements and trading posts.
Trade with natives for goods
delivered from interior: gold, slaves,
ivory, rubber.
Little efforts made to penetrate into
mainland, Why?
No incentive, trade goods
brought to coastal settlements
Dangerous to go into interior, lack
of technology and medicine

2. Explorers and Missionaries

Industrial Revolution drives efforts to
explore interiors of Africa and Asia to
gain resources.
Explorers usually sponsored by
European governments, sometimes
given license to claim territories:
Establish the flag.
Explorers use force or reward to gain
access into local rulers territories.
Example: Henry Morton Stanley
Missionaries often supported by their
governments, attempt to instill
Christianity and European values and
stop the slave trade.
Some missionaries also mapped and
explored. Example: Dr. David
Livingstone

Henry Morton Stanley

Area of Dr
Livingstones
Explorations
1866-1873

Think, Pair, Share

Thinking back to yesterdays lesson,
name 2 of the 3 different methods/ways/
groups of people that the Europeans used
to begin colonizing Africa.
(Hint: how did Europeans first make
contact, and/or begin to explore the interior
of Africa?)

3. Settlers and Commercial Groups

Once territories mapped out and

resources discovered settlers and
commercial groups move in.

Dutch Boer farmers South Africa

They often sign agreements with

local chiefs or rulers to acquire
resources, but usually at
disadvantage to native peoples.

Some commercial and business

activities provide opportunities for
native peoples, but some are
ruthless to gain resources.
Example: the Belgian Congo
rubber industry.

Can be periods of peaceful

Kimberly
coexistence with natives, but
Diamond Mines
Africa
increased presence and greed of
Europeans usually leads to
conflict.
*This is key turning point for natives,
they will lose control of things.

Rubber Workers
Belgian Congo

Kimberly Diamond Mine, South Africa 1870s

4. Military Intervention

Increasing presence and

aggressiveness of Europeans
often creates conflicts with local
peoples.

Settlers and commercial groups

appeal to their governments for
protection

Public opinion and national

interests force governments to
send in military to restore order

Native resistance usually crushed

by Europeans superior military
technology.

Once conflict resolved, European

nations often annex territories to
maintain military presence and
keep order.

British rifle square Africa 1880s

French storming Vietnamese fort 1870s

The Battle of Omdurman

1898

5. Colonies Established
European governments
establish permanent presence
and take administrative control
of territory.
Native rulers are deposed or
used for local control under
European administrators.
Colonial governments attempt
to provide infrastructure and
services: construct roads,
railroads, telegraph, etc
Natives can benefit from
introduction of: medicine and
sanitation, schools, and
business opportunities.

Think, Pair, Share

Do you think that the Europeans were
justified in their treatment of Africa? Why
or why not? Defend your answer.

Imperialism from the Native Perspective

I know the white mans
game: First the traders and
missionaries, then the
businessmen, then the
soldiers and the guns. It is
better for us to go straight
to the guns
King Menelik II of Ethiopia 1870s

V. The Consequences of Imperialism Colonialism

1. Created international conflict and military competition
between major powers
2. Disrupted or destroyed traditional native ways of life.
3. Europeans often exploited resources without any
compensation to native peoples
4. Berlin Conference 1885 created artificial borders without
consideration of native populations
5. Positives: Did improve natives peoples lives in a number of
ways: medicine, sanitation, transportation, and legal
systems