What are the various stages of European imperialism in Africa in the 19th century?

The process of colonization of Africa started in the nineteenth century.

It was close to Europe but Europeans were not familiar with its geography. Except the coastal countries like Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, people had very little knowledge about the rest of Africa. On the northern coast, France took Algeria under her protection in 1830. England occupied Cape colony and then Natal in 1843.

On the Western Coast Gambia, Gold coast, Sierra. Leone and Legas were under the dominance of England and Senegal, Ivory Coast and Gabum were under France. Portugal had occupied Angola and Mozambique and Spain, Spanish Guinea. Thus, only 10 percent of Africa was under the European control and they were still unfamiliar with 90 per cent area of Africa.

The work of discovering the dark areas of Africa was undertaken by adventurous explorer and religious missionaries. These missionaries were anxious to show the right path to the African who deviated from it. It was only in the wake of explorations by Morton Stanley and David Livingston that the world came to learn about the riches of this continent and started taking keen interest in its colonialisation.

The lead in this direction was taken by king Leopold II of Belgium who financed the voyages of Morton Stanely who exposed the rich Congo Basin. King Leopold II erected the Congo Free State with the consent of other powers. Initially, this state behaved as a neutral and independent state and was open to traders of all nations, but in 1907 it was annexed by Belgium.

Germany, which for long was discouraged by Bismarck from embarking on colonial ventures, also took keen interest in Africa. In fact, when Germany achieved her unity and embarked on colonial career, nearly all available countries were already occupied.

The only place where some tracts of land were available was Africa. These lands were considered as unfit for white settlers. Germany tried to capture as much land as possible without embroiling herself with the neighbors. Thus, she annexed Togoland and Cameroons in 1884. Germany Captured East Africa and South-West Africa.

The division of Africa is an important event in the history of Europe. First of all, Leopold II, the ruler of Belguim showed interest in Africa. He planned to establish the Belgium Empire in Africa. In 1876, he convened an International conference in his capital city Brussels for promoting exploration of Africa and spreading the light of civilization there. There was another conference held in Berlin between November 1884 and February 1885.

Its aim was to consider the freedom of trade and navigation on the Congo and the Niger rivers and other colonial problems. It was attended by all European nations except Switzerland as well as the representatives of the U.S.A. It was signed by the representatives of all the nations. This code of conduct was known as the Berlin Act which legalised the exploitation of Africa.

The French imperialism was started in the mid- seventeenth century. In the mid-nineteenth century, they conquered Algeria after an arduous and hideous struggle. In 1871, 11000 persons from Alsaece Lorraine shifted to Algeria. More French settlers followed them and soon Algeria began to be regarded as an extension of provincial France. France seized Tunis in 1881. In 1889 France established her protectorate over Madagascar.

France conquered Ivory Coast and Dahomey in 1891 and 1897 respectively. She further moved northwards and reached Lake Chad in 1897. France also established her control over the desert Sahara and thus succeeded in providing a common link to all her colonies. France also captured Senegal and Morocco. France established control over Egypt but gave up her claims in favour of Great Britain.

As compared to the other colonial powers the Portuguese, the Italians and the Spaniards were less successful in their colonial ventures. Portugal established control over the province Angola in the south of the Belgium Congo. She also set up the colony of Mozambique. Italy captured Eritrea and Italian Somaliland in the east.

She also made a bid to bring the state of Abyssinia under her control but did not succeed. In the north, Italy occupied Libya and Tripoli. Spain secured the Canary Islands and some other islands on the Guinea Coast. The Spaniards also made effort to extend the bridge head in Morocco which they had secured in 1860, but did not meet with any success.

But it was Britain which grabbed the maximum portions of Africa. She carved out colonies in all parts of Africa-East, West, North and South. The person who was responsible for Britain gaining lion’s share of Africa was Cecil Rhodes. He set up British colonies in South Africa and helped Britain to occupy Rhodesia and Nyasaland from the natives and Cape colony from the Dutch. In 1885, Britain declared Bechuanaland as a British Protectorate. Gold Coast and Seirra Leone were captured in 1886 and 1889 respectively.

In 1890, Britain hastily organized Northern and Southern Rhodesea. In the East and West Africa, the British trading companies afforded protection to Uganda, to Kenya and to Nigeria. Britain also acquired Somaliland and reconquered Sudan in 1898. In 1899- 1900, as a result of their victory in the Boer War, the British annexed the Orange Free states and Transval. In 1909, these two states merged with two other states and the union of South Africa came into existence. Thus, by the end of the nineteenth century Britain had under control over five thousand million square miles of Africa.