They started out with small trade missions, then came some missionaries and so called geographers trying to map the whole thing out. Charter companies then basically started the process and back in the day of "flag follows commerce" they got backing from the Government. They basically had companies listed on the stock exchanges whose main assets were colonies. King Leopold and some German ruler I forgot then organized the conference to carve the continent up because Leopold knew he did not have the muscle to compete when the Germans, French and British came. They had a series of "treaties" too they signed fraudulently to take over and then spent a good number of years putting down rebellions from the local population. However Europe was always fighting and it did not take long for them to plunge themselves and the world into major wars which gave rise to nationalist movements.
How did the European colonization of Africa take place?
- Thread starter Faneto
- Start date
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Only partially agree, because
- tropical weather is not all of Africa,
- the weather in Europe is not "cold", it's moderate except for the winter. All of Southern Europe is relatively warm even in the winter
- Europe has resources, namely wood and rivers : that explains why navigation became important very early, which in turn explains why intra-European trade got big early (leading to growth and ideas feeding off each other) and to Europeans exploring the world early.
- Northern Europe is colder indeed, and I agree that it pushed them to explore other parts of Europe and the world.
Trajan
Veteran
@KidStranglehold 
Great points. On the tools and causes.
People have to remember that colonisation really only took place in the 19th Century (for the most part). Up until that point, the relationship between Africans and Europeans was one of trade, albeit with unequal bargaining powers. This got worse over time and the relationship became one of increasing domination before turning into outright colonisation.
Africans, who were alarmed by this time, attempted to fight back in the 19th century and expel the Europeans. But with the industrial revolution and subsequent technological gap it was too late.
Africans were ripe
Great points. On the tools and causes.
People have to remember that colonisation really only took place in the 19th Century (for the most part). Up until that point, the relationship between Africans and Europeans was one of trade, albeit with unequal bargaining powers. This got worse over time and the relationship became one of increasing domination before turning into outright colonisation.
Africans, who were alarmed by this time, attempted to fight back in the 19th century and expel the Europeans. But with the industrial revolution and subsequent technological gap it was too late.
Africans were ripe
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Wow just read up on it, and basically the Berlin Conference was indeed called by Bismarck and Leopold II, but for the main reason of settling the potential conflict between Belgium, France and it seems Portugal in the Congo region. But quickly and due to various interests, alliances, etc the confernce was expanded to damn near 14 countries/empires (you had the US, the Ottoman Empire, Denmark, Spain, the Ottoman Empire...). Obviously no single African head of state/king was at the table.
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Breh I can't lie I don't really have any one book I coudl recommend, I'm reading stuff here and there but I'm sure other brehs would have better input than myself. Maybe ask in that stickied "What are you reading thread" here in the Root
Edit : http://www.thecoli.com/threads/the-root-what-books-are-you-reading-right-now.312720/
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Buy it. Read it.
no I only watched it - I may buy it though