The partition of Africa by Europe and its impacts
Africa was the last continent to be colonized in the world. This was because of the frequent emergence of diseases such as malaria in great parts of it. However, due to its high fertility content, the Europeans reconsidered it and advanced into it in great numbers. Africa was also known for the production of strong people who could serve well as slaves.
To solve the conflicts among the European nations that gambled for Africa, the European nations held a conference by name Berlin Conference in the year 1884. After dividing Africa among themselves, most of the Europeans preferred settling at the coastal regions of Africa. This was because the coast regions had ports that played a great role in controlling trading activity that took place within and outside Africa. However, due to demand of raw materials that were produced at the interior of Africa, majority of the Europeans eventually moved to the interior of Africa to exploit the resources. Among the Europeans that advanced into interior Africa were the missionaries. The missionaries worked extensively in converting Africans into Christians, as they also took note of fertile regions to settle.
The partition of Africa among the Europeans led to the crippling of the economy of Africa. This was because all the Europeans diverted all the profits garnered to their native countries. Of all the countries in Africa, only Liberia and Ethiopia managed to go un-colonized by European nations. The main reason for Liberia going un-colonized was because it was used as a centre for housing the captured slaves from other parts of Africa. On the other hand, Ethiopia’s had a strong emperor that managed to lead his troop of army against the inversion of the Europeans.
The partition of Africa also led to emergence of conflicts among African nations; this was triggered by drawing of boundaries that led to disagreements that exist up to current societies. The colonization of Africa also led to the dissolving of African cultures with the West practices.
Overseas trade competition
After 1600, European overseas expansion gave human history a new phase. For instance, between 1630 and 1650, the Dutch took control of Brazil, Africa and Asia. They also managed to overcome the Spanish in the Atlantic warfare, making them develop their native lands economically. In early 18th century, most of the Indonesian islands were under the control of the Dutch East India Company. On the other hand, the French had only the ability of managing a small portion of Southeast Asia known as Indochina. The lands in Southeast Asia proved to be so fertile leading to the gamble of the European over them. For instance, the Dutch quest for more land in the Southeast Asia led to them involving in wars that drove Portuguese out of Malacca, and the British together with the Javanese out of Java. The discovery of oil and tin in the island Indonesia led to the Dutch extending their territory more hence controlling the whole island of Indonesia.
Due to the demand of the British to involve the Dutch into an economic competition, the British hunted for a trade base at the coastal region on which their ships could stop. They chose Singapore harbor, a harbor at the end of Malay Peninsula that connected directly with Suez Canal. This decision by the British made the demand for tin and rubber lead to the rise of Singapore as one of the busiest ports in the universe. The British also managed to take control of both Malaysia and Burma. To its advantage, Malaysia became the leading exporter of rubber, enabling the British to have Chinese immigrants to work for them. The falling of the metropole to the French armies during the revolutionary war led to Netherland loosing most of its colonial possessions to the British. In addition, the loss of Netherland’s power status to the British contributed immensely to the advancement of the British power, hence making it global superpower.
China’s Ming Dynasty and the Manchu Ching Dynasty
The Qing Manchu Dynasty that existed between 1644 and 1912 was the last dynasty that existed in China. Its origin was from the North. It is also known to have contributed to the exploitation of China through its paving way for the foreign from the West. Its emperors were unpopular among the Chinese because they were of non-Han Chinese origin. Despite their negative contributions to China, they are credited for having led to live improvements of ordinary Chinese and expansion of China to its current size. Success of the Manchus conquering China was based in their success in assimilating Chinese culture. For the Manchu to take control of China they not only continued with Confucian court procedures, but they also involved observance of temple rituals.
The Ming dynasty is also the last native dynasty that existed in China between 1644 and 1911. The Ming dynasty is known for having existed for about 300 years. It is during its reign that the Chinese science and technological practices declined leading to introduction of Western science by Jesuit intellectuals. It was also during its reign that the rising status of class of merchants took place. During Ming rule, the emerged construction of huge army made up of approximately one million troops. In addition, during Ming’s rule there were construction of many projects that included the renovation of Grand Canal and Great wall. Ming rule is also remembered for the founding of the Forbidden City located in Beijing. The Ming Dynasty remains to be known as a time when there existed economic growth and cultural diversification with the West.