European Imperialism in Africa and India

European Imperialism

Before European imperialism, Africa was a vast continent filled with people who took pride in their cultures and controlled their land as they saw fit. Eventually, European countries sought to control as much land as possible. In 1884-1885, 14 nations met at the Berlin Conference to establish rules for dividing Africa. Any European country could claim land in Africa by notifying other nations. No African ruler was invited to this conference. By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained free.

Africans began to lose pride in their nations because Europeans demanded more influence and power over the economic, political, and social lives of the people. They also developed day-to-day management of the colonies. Two methods emerged: Britain used indirect control, while France and others used direct control.

African Resistance

Eventually, Africans had enough and rebelled. Africans across the continent resisted European attempts to colonize their land. The contests were never equal because of Europe's superior arms. With the exception of Ethiopia, all African attempts at resistance failed. Ethiopia was the only African nation to successfully resist the Europeans.

Ethiopia and Menelik II

Menelik II became the emperor of Ethiopia in 1889. He signed a treaty with Italy, thinking he was giving up only a small piece of Ethiopia. However, the Italian version claimed all of it, and Italy declared Ethiopia a protectorate.

The Battle of Adwa

The Battle of Adwa was one of the greatest battles in the history of resistance to the Scramble for Africa. Menelik II successfully defeated the Italians and kept Ethiopia independent.

British Rule in India

As British wealth grew, they continuously sought to expand their influence and power over India. In influencing their culture, they completely disregarded the local customs and traditions of the Indians. When they supplied firearms for the Sepoys, most of whom were Hindu or Muslim, they greased the bullet cartridges with pork and beef fat, animals regarded as sacred or forbidden in Hindu and Islamic culture. This act deeply offended both Hindu and Muslim Sepoys.

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857

The mutiny significantly increased distrust between the British and Indians. As a result of the mutiny, the British Crown took direct command of India, ending the rule of the British East India Company.