Imperialism in India and Africa

British East India Company Decline of Mughal Empire  British East India Company controlled 3/5 of India because India was culturally divided (many languages and traditions) & superior weapons Goals of Company – make money, build roads (connect for trade), preserve peace, and curtail crime

Problems/Issues with British Rule Required Indian soldiers to serve any where  overseas travel against religion Allowed Hindu women to remarry (against religion) Cartridges (bite tips off to use)  greased with animal fat (cow – problem with Hindus or Pig – problem with Muslims) Insensitive to beliefs and customs of Indian people

Sepoy Rebellion Sepoy – Indian soldier Sepoys refused to load rifles (grease on bullets)  dismissed Rebelled  massacred British men, women, and children British crushed revolt  torched villages and slaughtered unarmed Indians Great Britain took over control of India – no longer controlled by company

British Rule in India - Pros Built roads and railroads Improved communication (telegraph and postal system) Medical improvements New farming techniques  increased food supply (led to population growth) Legal system – justice for all

British Rule in India - Cons Hurt India’s hand weaving industry – sold machine made goods in India (machine made goods are cheaper/more of them) Pushed farmers to grow cash crops (cotton) – strain on food supply (could not support large population)

Imperialism in Africa

Imperialism in Africa

Imperialism in Africa - Egypt Suez Canal 1. Connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea – short cut between Europe and Asia (no longer have to go around Africa to get to Indian Ocean) 2. Built in 1869 with Egyptian labor and French money 3. Eventually, British purchased Egypt’s shares in the canal  British occupied Egypt by 1882

Suez Canal

Imperialism in Africa – South Africa Dutch arrived in the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 (pit stop between Netherlands and Asia) Dutch settlers (Boers) established large farms British took over the Cape Colony in the 1800s – conflict between British and Boers

Imperialism in Africa – South Africa 1830s – Boers moved north to escape British rule (Great Trek) Discovery of gold and diamonds in Boer territory  led to conflict 1899 – Boers vs. British (Boer Wars) Britain won 1902 – Boer republics became part of Union of South Africa, controlled by the British

Imperialism in Africa – Ethiopia and Liberia Ethiopia and Liberia – only two nations to remain independent during the age of imperialism

Impact of Colonial Rule - Pros Reduced local warfare Improved sanitation Built hospitals (increased life expectancy) and schools (improved literacy) Built railroads, dams, and telephone and telegraph lines

Impact of Colonial Rule - Cons Africans lost control of their land and independence Many died of new diseases such as smallpox Many died trying to resist European control Famine due to growth of cash crops instead of food Breakdown of traditional African culture