Scramble for Africa
Explanation for imperialism
1 Economic forces
- ==Hobson== suggested the shrinking of markets and surplus of capital in need of markets.
- ==Lenin== adapted his idea: Imperialism was “a direct continuation of the fundamental properties of capitalism in general”.
3 Strategic and military forces
The need to keep ahead of rivals in the drive to secure empire. For example, Britain.
4 Individuals
They did this through independent actions on the ground, making deals with local rulers and by refusing or “misinterpreting” orders from their governments.
examples: Frenchman Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the GermanKarl Peters, Welshman Henry Morton Stanley or military men such as Charles”Chinese” Gordon
What enables them: technology (medical advancement)
%% ### Timeline: (Full version on next section) 1. The Berlin Conference,1884-85 - recognize Belgium’s pre-eminent position in the Congo basin. - the area is 80 times the size of Belgium - 2.
%%
Minor Details:
- Henry Morton Stanley negotiated treaties with local chiefs, getting them to sign away tracts of land(with a signature of an “X”, as many of them could not read or write) 1878
2 Social forces