Colonization of Africa
Since the earliest days of human existence, Africa has been home to numerous societies and states. Yet, throughout history various foreign powers, such as the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans, have laid claim to African territory. The most extreme example was the colonization of Africa by European powers.
The Advent of Colonialism and the Scramble for Africa
European powers became interested in Africa as early as the 15th century during an age of exploration and over time, claims on African territory followed. European colonization efforts in Africa intensified in the late 19th-century, coinciding with the era of new imperialism, which saw global powers embarking on a quest for colonies throughout the world. By 1914 European countries had collectively claimed about 90 percent of the African continent.
European interaction with African people generally began with trade and the establishment of trading posts and, later, settlements along Africa’s coastal areas. As colonization increased, more Europeans pushed into the interior of the continent, increasingly coming into conflict with the Indigenous populations as they claimed territory. Colonial administration involved subjugation and oppression. Some colonial powers embraced direct rule, while others ruled indirectly through traditional leaders or others. Colonies were exploited for natural resources and had economic systems imposed that were designed to benefit the colonizing power rather than the colonized people, which disrupted the precolonial economic systems and patterns of trade and made the colonies’ inhabitants dependent upon imported goods. African people were compelled to participate in the new economic models by various means, with the brutal forced labor practices in Belgian King Leopold II’s Congo Free State among the most horrifying examples.
Noteworthy Conflicts During the Colonial Period
The Decolonization Process: Key Events, Dates, and People
Decolonization in Africa happened over several decades in the 20th century, with more than half of European colonies gaining independence in the 1960s alone. It was fueled by rising nationalistic sentiments among African people and the post-World War II landscape that saw European powers faced with financial constraints, domestic opposition to maintaining colonies, and increasing anti-colonial pressure on the international stage, particularly from the United States and the Soviet Union. In response, many European countries began preparing plans—or accelerated existing plans—to withdraw from their colonial holdings. The process varied by the European power and colony: some colonies had a gradual, relatively peaceful path to independence, whereas others gained independence abruptly or endured lengthy liberation wars.
Africa After Decolonization
Decolonization had a significant impact on international relations, which in turn affected political and economic development in postcolonial Africa. New international and regional organizations emerged, and global alliances shifted. Frameworks were created by which one could attempt to assess the relative prosperity and power of the world’s countries. Some African countries navigated new trade partnerships and political alliances with the United States, the former Soviet Union, and other countries. Others remained economically dependent on former colonial powers, which allowed the latter to retain influence there. Over the years new relationships developed, with China and Russia notably expanding their influence on the continent. Still, the legacy of colonialism remains a factor that has hindered Africa’s development.
Influences on Postcolonial Africa
Watch and Learn
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
