Colonial Administration
European colonial powers employed a variety of administrative methods to govern Africa. Some ruled via Direct rule, Some via indirect rule, Some via assimilation and Some via association.
- Direct rules meant Europeans directly controlled the government and made all the decisions.
- Indirect rules meant local king stayed in charge, but the Europeans controlled him from behind the scenes
- Assimilation means Europeans tried to force Africans to adopt their language, religion, and customs.
- Association means Europeans partnering with other African leaders but still held most of the power.
Europeans make a huge impact on African societies, cultures, and economies by imposing their culture and traditions on Africans. this resulted in many conflicts also among the Europeans and africans. Europeans took resources such as gold, diamonds, and rubber out of Africa to sell and make themselves richer, leaving little behind for the Africans. Africans grow crops like cotton and cocoa for Europeans instead of their food and this results in hunger and malnutrition. Many Africans were forced to work for the Europeans in harsh conditions, sometimes even as slaves. Colonial rule in Africa impacted them in various measures such as unequal development, environmental impact such as deforestation, and lack of education and healthcare.
Colonialism in Africa
Colonialism in Africa spanned from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. It fundamentally changed the social, economic, and political landscape of Africa, and left a mark that lasts to this day. The major motives for colonizing Africa are Economic Exploitation, Strategic Interests, Competition, Rivalry, overpopulation in Europe, and economic opportunities.
In this article, we will discuss colonialism in Africa and the pre-colonial period and how it impacted Africa in detail. Let’s start.
Table of Content
- Colonialism in Africa – Overview
- Historical Context of Colonialism in Africa
- Pre-Colonial Africa
- European Colonization of Africa
- Colonial Administration
- Social and Cultural Impact of Colonialism
- Resistance and Independence Movements
- Decolonization and Independence
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