1. AP World History POD #16 – New Imperialism In Africa Africa Before Europe

2. Class Discussion Notes Bulliet et. al. – “Changes and Exchanges in Africa”, pp. 685-692

3. Historical Setting ► “In the century before 1870 Africa underwent dynamic political changes and a great expansion of foreign trade. Indigenous African leaders and Middle Eastern and European imperialists built powerful new states and expanded old ones. As the slave trade died under British pressure, trade in other goods grew sharply. In return Africans imported large quantities of machine-made textiles and firearms. These complex changes are best understood by looking at African regions separately.” (Bulliet, p. 685)

4. Shaka Zulu come to power ► The powerful kingdom of the Zulu rose in southern Africa ► For many centuries the Nguni peoples had farmed and raised cattle in the fertile coast-lands of southeastern Africa until a serious drought hit the region early in the 19 th century allowing for the upstart military genius Shaka to take control of the region in 1818 ► The Zulu under the direction of Shaka established a fierce military employing strict military drill and close combat tactics featuring ox-hide shields and lethal stabbing spears

5. Shaka Zulu dominates for a decade ► Shaka led his kingdom on expeditions of conquest and expansion against neighbors, seizing their cattle and capturing their women and children ► Breakaway military bands spread this system of warfare and state building inland ► As the number of these new powerful states began to emerge so to did the number of displaced and demoralized refugees ► To protect themselves the rival of the Zulu began to create their own states – Lesotho & Swaziland ► At home many festivals were created to honor and glorify Shaka as a means to show off the king’s enormous herds of cattle and wealth

6. Islamic Reform ► Islamic reformers were creating a new cluster of powerful states in the savannas of West Africa ► By the 1770’s, Muslim scholars were preaching the need for religious reform and began calling for jihad to add new lands where governments would enforce Islamic law ► Hausa under the leadership of Usuman dan Fodio established this Islamic government with his overthrow of the King of Gobir in 1804

7. Sokoto Caliphate ► 1809-1906 – the largest state in West Africa since the 16 th century ► Conquered the Hausa states and neighboring areas under the caliph (sultan) ► Became a center of Islamic learning and reform as many religious schools and a library were established ► Non-Muslims could practice their own religion in exchange for payment of a special tax ► Those who resisted the jihadist expansion of Islam were killed, enslaved or forced to convert ► Slavery increased within the Sokoto Caliphate as a result of this

8. Muhammad Ali ► Modernization in Egypt – Napoleon’s invading army had withdrawn from Egypt by 1801, but the power and strength of the European army and the weakness of the Egyptians had become apparent ► Muhammad Ali led Egypt from 1805 to 1849 – creating the most powerful Islamic state in the world ► Used western technology and methods to modernize the nation ► Positive Impact - population of Egypt doubled, trade increased by 600%, and an educated class of Egyptians began to replace the old ruling aristocracy ► Negative Impact – demands on peasant families for labor and military service became disruptive

9. Ismail ► Grandson to Muhammad Ali ► Greater emphasis on modernization and westernization in Egypt – although this did lead to greater debt to Great Britain and France ultimately leading to partial occupation of the country by these European powers ► “MY COUNTRY IS NO LONGER IN AFRICA, IT IS IN EUROPE” ► Under his leadership revenues increased thirtyfold, exports double (largely as a result of the US Civil War and the cotton trade) ► Built new irrigation canals, 800 miles of railroad, established a modern postal service and constructed a new capital city at Cairo

10. Ethiopia ► State building and reform were also under way in Ethiopia, whose rulers had been Christian for fifteen hundred years. Beginning in the 1840s, Ethiopian rulers purchased modern weapons from European sources and created strong armies loyal to the ruler. ► Emperor Tweodros attempted to coerce more technical aid from the British by holding some of their officials hostage – this however, backfired and led to a British invasion instead resulting in the Tweodros committing suicide

11. Explorers ► Small expeditions of self-funded explorers began to arrive on the African continent to search for the inner mysteries of the land and evaluate the mineral wealth of the land while converting the locals to Christianity ► Quinine to treat malaria, steamboat to conquer the strong river currents, guns used to subjugate the native populations ► What role does Social Darwinism and White Man’s Burden play in motivating these individual explorers?

12. David Livingstone ► “The Scottish missionary doctor David Livingston (1813- 1873) explored southern and central Africa. His primary goal was to scout out locations for Christian missions, but he also traced the course of the Zambezi River between 1853 and 1856, naming its greatest waterfall for the British Queen Victoria. In 1871 while tracing the course of the upper Congo River, he encountered the journalist Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) on a publicity-motivated search for the “lost” missionary doctor. Stanley’s large expedition fought their way across the continent but Livingstone’s modest expeditions, which posed no threat to anyone, regularly received warm hospitality.” (Bulliet, p. 690)

13. Abolition ► “The successful slave revolt in Saint Domingue in the 1790s ended slavery in the largest plantation colony in the West Indies. Elsewhere in the Americas slave revolts were brutally repressed. As news of the slave revolts and their repression spread, humanitarians and religious reformers called for an end to the trade. Support for abolition of the trade was found even among Americans wanting to preserve slavery. In 1807 both Great Britain and the United States made importing slaves from Africa illegal for their citizens. Most other Western countries followed suit by 1850, but few enforced abolition with the vigor of the British.” (Bulliet, 690) ► Recaptives – Africans rescued by Britain’s Royal Navy from the illegal slave trade of the 19 th century and restored to free status

14. Legitimate Trade ► Trade with Africa consisting of items other than slaves ► Palm oil for use in soap, candles and lubricants ► African merchants and traders became the new purchasers of slaves to paddle the canoes that carried much of the palm oil