The Berlin Conference and the Causes of Imperialism

Unit 5: The Berlin Conference and Imperialism

Definition: The Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

The Berlin Conference, convened at the request of Otto von Bismarck, brought together colonial powers to formalize the "Scramble for Africa." The treaty established that possession of a coastline entitled a nation to occupy the corresponding interior. Following the signing, the occupation of the African continent accelerated rapidly.

Chronology

• Berlin Conference: 1884-1885

The Causes of Imperialism

The new colonial impulse was driven by several key factors:

• Political and Strategic: Colonies became a yardstick for national greatness. Strategic motivations included controlling trade routes, protecting territories, and preventing annexation by rival powers.
• Demographic: Colonies provided areas to absorb surplus national populations, helping to reduce internal social tensions.
• Economic: Increased production during the Second Industrial Revolution created a need for raw materials and new markets free of customs barriers. Furthermore, the development of capitalism required new spaces for capital investment.
• Ideological: Certain currents manipulated Darwin's theories, applying them to society to proclaim the superiority of the white race and a perceived mission to "civilize" the rest of the world.

Consequences of Colonialism and Imperialism

Impact on Indigenous Societies

• Political: Local governments were eliminated or subjected to foreign control.
• Demographic: Mortality rates decreased due to advancements in medicine and hygiene.
• Economic: Colonial powers forced indigenous populations to work for their benefit, seized land, replaced traditional crops with plantations, imposed unequal trade, prevented local industrialization, and developed infrastructure like ports.
• Social: A new social structure emerged, marked by a sharp contrast between the foreign minority and the local population.
• Cultural: Indigenous languages, beliefs, and cultures were displaced by foreign ones, leading to cultural crisis or disappearance.

Consequences for Colonial Powers

Colonialism brought global superiority, political power, and wealth, while encouraging industrialization and the study of other civilizations. Conversely, it sharpened international economic and political clashes, serving as a primary cause for the outbreak of the First World War.