Early Stages of the European Scramble for Africa
According to historians, Egypt is believed to be the first region in Africa to be a victim of European colonization. The Suez Canal, which provided a convenient route to the British province of India, was why the British took control of Egypt in 1882 (Beck, 2019). The change in the power dynamics in the region led to other European nations taking an interest in Africa.
The Berlin Conference: Convening, Participants, and Absences
The consequent Berlin Conference was held in Berlin in 1884. It was attended by Britain, Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, Portugal, Sweden, Russia, Spain, and the United States (Beck, 2019). The US engaged in the proceedings to defend its perceived interests in Africa (N’diaye, 2016).
The Berlin Conference intended to divide the continent of Africa among European countries. Spurred by the interest in African natural resources, they started their conquest (Reid, 2019). However, African nations were not consulted during the Conference due to their perceived inferiority (Reid, 2019). Hence, the Berlin conference was held between 14 European powers to divide African territory, with Africans themselves being excluded due to their perceived inferiority.
Treaties Between Africans and Europeans, and Among European Powers
Treaties between European powers and Africans differed significantly from those of European powers. For instance, in 1895, the Ashtani sent their representative to London to give the British the right to establish a chancery company at Komassi. The British ignored this request, violently turning Ashanti territory into a British protectorate (N’diaye, 2016). The Berlin Conference, which resulted in the division of Africa among the European powers, was the most well-known agreement between the European powers (Beck, 2019). As a result, treaties between Europeans were negotiated among equals, in contrast to how discussions between European and African governments were conducted.
African Nations That Escaped Colonization and Their Reasons
However, some African countries have evaded European colonialism and remained independent. Ethiopia and Liberia resisted colonialism due to their geography, economies, and unity. The others were partitioned between the Europeans, with hostile ethnicities being forced to live in the same borders, some of which continue to do so even after decolonization. The methods used by Europeans included the conquest of the native people, as the continent’s inhabitants were showing excellent resistance and resentment (N’diaye, 2016). Hence, while Liberia and Ethiopia were able to avoid colonization due to strong economies and unity, other nations were violently split apart by Europeans, leading to some hostile nations being forced to live near each other.
References
Beck, E. (2019). Scramble for Africa overview. History Crunch. Web.
N’diaye, O. (2016). AFRICA Episode 6 The Magnificent African Cake Written Presented by Basil Davidson Executive Produ [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Reid, R. J. (2019). A History of Modern Africa: 1800 to the Present. Wiley-Blackwell.