The Scramble for Africa, 3e

In 1870 barely one tenth of Africa was under European control. By 1914 only about one tenth – Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Liberia – was not. This book offers a clear and concise account of the ‘scramble’ or ‘race’ for Africa, the period of around 20 years during which European powers carved up the continent with little or no consultation of its inhabitants. In her classic overview, M.E. Chamberlain: Contrasts the Victorian image of Africa with what we now know of African civilisation and history Examines in detail case histories from Egypt to Zimbabwe Argues that the history and background of Africa are as important as European politics and diplomacy in understanding the 'scramble' Considers the historiography of the topic, taking into account Marxist and anti-Marxist, financial, economic, political and strategic theories of European imperialism This indispensible introduction, now in a fully updated third edition, provides the most accessible survey of the ‘scramble for Africa’ currently available. The new edition includes primary source material unpublished elsewhere, new illustrations and additional pedagogical features. It is the perfect starting point for any study of this period in African history. M.E. CHAMBERLAIN is Professor Emeritus at Swansea University. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgements 11 Publisher’s acknowledgements 12 Chronology 13 Who’s who 20 Glossary 35 Maps 39 PART ONE THE PROBLEM 42 1 INTRODUCTION 44 2 THE AFRICAN BACKGROUND 46 Environmental factors 47 Egypt 50 Islam 51 The slave trade 55 Southern Africa 55 3 THE VICTORIAN IMAGE OF AFRICA 58 The influence of the slave trade 59 Eighteenth century scientific interest 60 Slave trade versus legitimate trade 62 ‘Backward’ Africa 63 The missionaries 65 Exploration and its consequences 66 PART TWO ANALYSIS 72 4 THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF EGYPT, 1882 74 The Suez Canal 76 Financial problems 77 Military action begins 81 The debate begins 83 5 WEST AFRICA 85 Quarrels with the Ashanti 86 The challenge from the French 88 The Niger 89 King Leopold of the Belgians intervenes 91 Portugal’s claims 92 The Berlin West Africa conference 94 The Royal Niger Company 95 The German challenge 97 The Great Depression 100 6 EAST AFRICA 102 A new Australia 103 The German challenge 104 Strategy versus commerce 105 7 SOUTH AFRICA 110 The role of the Boers 111 Bechuanaland 113 Gold and diamonds 114 ‘Rhodesia’ 114 8 FASHODA AND THE ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENTS OF 1904 120 Fashoda 122 The 1904 agreements 124 PART THREE ASSESSMENT 126 9 CONCLUSION 128 Britain: Conservative and Liberal opinion 128 Continental opinion too was divided 129 The debate begins in earnest 130 Lenin takes a hand 131 The role of Africans 135 PART FOUR DOCUMENTS 138 1 David Livingstone: humanitarian 139 2 Commerce 139 3 Africa as El Dorado 140 4 Darkest Africa: fully developed racism 141 5 Stanley’s antipathy 142 6 Suez Canal 143 7 The Egyptian finances: Stephen Cave’s report 144 8 Divided opinions 146 9 Egypt in international diplomacy 148 10 Death of Gordon at Khartoum 150 11 The desire to abandon responsibilities 151 12 The fears of British traders 152 13 The British government’s reaction 154 14 The Berlin West Africa conference lays down the ‘rules’ for the scramble 155 15 The Royal Niger Company 156 16 The Great Depression 159 17 The mixture of economic and strategic arguments 160 18 The ‘little Englanders’ stand on Uganda 162 19 Cecil Rhodes 163 20 The Rudd Concession 164 21 The Colonial Office’s doubts about the legality of the British South Africa Company’s position 165 22 The Fashoda incident 166 23 The Anglo-French agreements of April 1904 168 24 J.A. Hobson 169 25 V.I. Lenin 170 26 Lord Cromer 170 27 A modern rejection of traditional explanations of the partition 171 28 Was the whole phenomenon economic after all? 172 APPENDIX: EUROPEAN COLONIAL BACKGROUND 173 GUIDE TO FURTHER READING 177 REFERENCES 187 INDEX 189 pt. 1. The problem Introduction The African background The Victorian image of Africa pt. 2. Analysis The British occupation of Egypt, 1882 West Africa East Africa South Africa Fashoda and the Anglo-French agreements of 1904 pt. 3. Assessment Conclusion pt. 4. Documents. This study contrasts the Victorian image of Africa with what has been revealed by late 20th century research on the history of Africa. In addition to the politics and diplomacy of Europe, it gives equal attention to African history.