The Scramble for Africa was the rapid competition among European powers to acquire African territories for political, economic and social purposes. The main European powers involved were Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Belgium. By 1914, nearly the whole of Africa had been colonized, apart from Liberia and Abyssinia.
Africa Before the Scramble
Before the major scramble, Africa consisted of states and kingdoms ruled by African kings and chiefs. Examples included the Fulani Empire, the Zulu Kingdom, the Congo Kingdom, Asante and Fante. Europeans had visited the African coast for trade from the fifteenth century, but initially showed little interest in controlling the interior.
Why the Scramble Did Not Begin Before 1879
- Political factors: European states faced domestic problems, powerful African kingdoms resisted foreign control, and some European leaders opposed acquiring colonies.
- Economic factors: European industrialization was still developing, knowledge of African resources was limited, raw materials were available from Asia and America, and colonial administration appeared expensive.
- Social and environmental factors: the tropical climate, deadly diseases, poor transport networks, limited amenities and insecurity made European settlement difficult.
Political Motives After 1879
- To gain prestige and demonstrate national strength.
- To compensate for territories lost in Europe.
- To occupy strategic locations and establish military bases.
- To exploit the weakening of some African states and kingdoms.
- To respond to King Leopold’s activities in the Congo.
- To use the Berlin West African Conference of 1884–1885 as a framework for European occupation.
Economic Motives After 1879
- To obtain cheap raw materials such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, palm products and timber.
- To find new markets for manufactured goods.
- To invest surplus capital and increase profits.
- To search for minerals and fertile land for plantation agriculture.
- To obtain cheap African labour.
- To respond to pressure from trading companies and exaggerated reports about Africa’s economic potential.
Summary
European colonization resulted from political rivalry, industrial and commercial interests, strategic ambitions and changing attitudes toward Africa. The process transformed African states and brought most of the continent under European rule by the beginning of the First World War.
