In 1914 at the peak of European colonization which two African countries were independent?
Colonial Africa On The Eve of World War I
Data Scavenger Hunt
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above:
In 1914 just before the outbreak of World War I when European powers controlled 90% of the continent, which two African countries were independent?
A colony is a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country. In 1914 Which European countries had African colonies?
The Scramble for Africa refers to the period between roughly 1884 and 1914, when the European colonizers partitioned the African continent into protectorates, colonies and 'free-trade areas'. By 1914 how many separate countries or areas in Africa did Italy control?
As late as 1880, 90% of the continent remained free from European colonial rivalries. But by 1914 those numbers had changed dramatically. The African population controlled by each European power in 1914 was roughly as follows:
Britain had 30% of the continent’s people in its colonies.
France had 15%.
Portugal had 11%.
Germany had 9%.
Belgium had 7%.
Italy had 1%.
According to the map below, in 1914, which two European country controlled the most land area in Africa?
Explain the connection between the map above and the map of business languages of Africa below.*
Big Brain Questions
Answer these questions by yourself using your brain and the links below:
On Sept 24, 1973, Italy, was discovered and claimed by the Chippewa Tribe, when Adam Nordwall stepped off an Alitalia jumbo jet and claimed Italy, the home of Christopher Columbus, for the Indian people. Of course, American Indian tribes have no legal ownership of Italy, but why did European nations have the right to claim and colonize African countries?
European powers had many advantages that allowed them to colonize African. These advantages included the steam engine that led to other advancements such as the steamboat, steam train and railroad construction. European powers also had superior weapons such as the Maxim gun, a machine gun that could fire up to 600 rounds per minute. They also had better communication networks and a larger population to draw from. Of all these factors, which was most important in allowing Europe to colonize Africa instead of the other way around?
Colonial powers justified their conquests by asserting that they had a legal and religious obligation to take over the land and culture of indigenous peoples. Conquering nations cast their role as civilizing “barbaric” or “savage” nations, and argued that they were acting in the best interests of those whose lands and peoples they exploited. In fact, European powers aggressively establishing colonies in Africa so that they could exploit and export Africa's resources like rubber, timber, diamonds, and gold, expand their empires, and protect their trade routes. Why do you think was the main motivation for the European colonizers in the scramble to take over Africa.
Although few modern nations have colonies many modern nations still have a great economic a, cultural, and political influence over others. Mae an argument about whether colonization is over today.
It has been said that history is written by the victors. How did Europe’s victory over Africa impact the story of Africa today.
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Read the story of the colonies America controls around the world and share your learning in class.
Get Creative
After reading this news article of the 1973 American Indian discovery of Italy imagine the African colonization of Europe and write a very short news story describing African colonization of Europe.