The scramble for Africa
I can recall Britain’s role in the scramble for Africa.
The scramble for Africa
I can recall Britain’s role in the scramble for Africa.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Economic interests and imperial expansion drove European interest in African colonies in the 19th century.
- In 1875 Britain bought shares in the Suez Canal and effectively controlled Egypt until the 1950s.
- The 1884-5 Berlin Conference partitioned Africa and led to British dominance.
- European colonisation had far-reaching and enduring consequences that have shaped Africa's history.
Keywords
Partition - to divide into parts
Arbitrary - something that is decided or done without any clear reason, logic, or fairness
Effective occupation - the principle that European countries could control parts of Africa if they could establish that they already exerted influence there
Common misconception
Britain and competing European powers met at the Berlin Conference before the scramble for Africa had begun.
Britain and competing European powers had already been 'scrambling' for Africa for the majority of the 19th century. The Berlin Conference was an attempt to put an end to the fighting between European powers over Africa's land and resources.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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