Africa is a continent comprised of many countries, each with their own unique languages, cultures, and traditions. While early interactions between Europeans and Africans along the coasts were minimal in the 1400s due to fear of malaria, by the late 1800s European powers had colonized much of Africa following conferences like the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 that divided the continent among themselves without African representation. This set the stage for conflicts Africa still faces today.

1. Africa Before Imperialism

2. AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY!!! Africa is a continent. It has many different countries in it. Many of the countries had their own language, culture, beliefs, background, and land. What does this make them?

3. Early European Interactions In the 1400s Europeans began to have interactions with Africans, but they were minimal and limited to the coasts because they were afraid of malaria. Europeans and Africans traded some commodities such as gold, ivory, and spices. Africans kept Europeans under control and from becoming too powerful with their strong armies.

4. Slave Trade Internal slave trade had been going on in Africa for a long time. Europeans began trading slaves with Africans and this led to external slave trade and began what is known as the “triangle trade.”

5. Europeans Gain Power Overtime Europeans discovered quinine which prevented malaria and developed the Maxim Gun which was stronger than African weapons. With these new discoveries Europeans started setting up colonies in Africa.

6. Fight Over Africa Belgium had one of the first colonies in Africa, after other European countries saw this they wanted colonies as well. European countries began rushing to claim parts of Africa for themselves.

7. Berlin Conference To avoid a war Europeans decided to have a conference to solve the problem with Africa. 14 European nations met at the Berlin Conference (1884 – 1885) to decide how to divide up Africa. No representatives from Africa were present. European nations divided up the continent with no regard to the various ethnic/linguistic groups in Africa. This conference decided Africa’s fate and set Africa up for many of the conflicts it still faces today

8. Big Ideas 1 Racism – the belief that one group of people is better than another – Europeans believed they were better than the Africans. Social Darwinism – the belief that naturally there is one stronger group and one weaker group – Europeans believed they were the stronger group and Africans were the weaker group.

9. Big Ideas 2 Industrialization – Europeans needed more raw materials to run machines. Nationalism – Europeans wanted to show how strong their nations were by dominating the African nations. Missionaries – many missionaries went to Africa to convert the people to Christianity and spread their beliefs.

10. Big Ideas 3 Technology – with the invention of the steam engine Europeans were able to travel into the interior of Africa. The invention of the Maxim Gun also gave Europeans the upper hand. Quinine – malaria was a concern for many Europeans, but quinine prevented malaria, so this allowed them to be more courageous.