When you hear the term imperialism, you first remember the Colonisation of Africa by powerful European countries. The European countries had various trade ambitions, but they started to exploit the native Africans and turned them into mere slaves who would benefit them by extracting those natural reserves. But what were the causes of imperialism in Africa? They are huge. Read this article to learn what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa.
1. What are 4 Causes of Imperialism in Africa?
Imperialism is defined as the act of expanding a country’s political, social, and economic power forcibly. The Europeans had initialized imperialism by colonizing several countries all around the globe, among which Africa and India were the most prominent. Following is the list of four causes of imperialism in Africa:
- Exploration: The Europeans primarily focused on various explorations to find places rich in raw materials before capturing those places. They focused on different trade routes, and new territories, finding out what the new places were like and what advantages they would have from those places.
- Economic: This is the most significant among the causes of imperialism. The industrial revolution has laid a huge effect all over Europe. The European nations focused on economic growth possible with the help of laborers, workers, and enslaved people. To have much more manpower like slaves and laborers and a source of rich raw materials, they started to exploit the people with their power all over the world.
- Social: Europeans claimed they came to Africa to make the native people civilized with their educational and social cultures. However, the Africans were enslaved by the Europeans and were used to extract raw materials from mines. Also, they have to serve the British.
- Political: The European countries had the ambition to expand their political power. To successfully execute that, they gained control over a specific place, one after another.
2. What were the Causes and Effects of European Imperialism?
The 18th to 20th century period is known as the Age of Imperialism. During that time, the most powerful country in the world was Europe. The Industrial Revolution in the 1800s affected Europe in a lot of ways. It created a high demand for raw materials and natural resources and showed hopes of high revenues and distinctive power in the world. In need of these resources, these Europeans started to take over weak foreign land such as Africa, India, America, etc. Check out What was the Reason for European Exploration?
What were three effects of European imperialism on Africa? Well, European Imperialism affected the colonies severely.
- Under European rule, the weaker places lost their own culture and industries.
- The introduction of imported goods as well wiped out the local craft industries.
- Europeans used the colonies as sources of their raw materials and therefore held back those colonies from their development.
3. What were Three Factors of European Imperialism?
As you deal with the answers to- what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa, you first need to know several factors that led to this foreign imperialism. The three factors of European Imperialism are:
- Economic
- Political
- Religion
4. What are 3 Major Effects of European Colonization in Africa?
As the Europeans plundered Africa’s resources, it resulted in violence all over Africa, poverty, and authoritarianism in Africa. So, what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa? Well, the 3 major effects of European Colonisation in Africa are:
- Shortage of natural resources,
- Death of Africans due to European diseases, and
- Increase in war and several revolutions.
These factors of European imperialism involved continuous mining and deforestation, resulting in a lack of resources and raw materials. Along with that, the Europeans brought various diseases, such as smallpox which affected many Africans. Other than this, there were several revolutionary movements led by many Africans against the European colonists. (See How did the Middle Colonies make Money?)
5. What are 3 Reasons for European Imperialism in Africa?
Besides pondering about- what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa, you must know about their reasons. The 3 reasons for European Imperialism in Africa are mainly economic, political, and religious. However, the reasons for imperialism are establishing trade routes for an increase in the economy, such as by trading ivory, etc. To obtain resources such as gold, ivory, minerals, oils, and manpower such as laborers, slaves, etc. Another reason for imperialism is gaining territories to expand political power and manpower.
6. What Effects did European Imperialism have on Africa? What were Effects of the European Rule in Africa?
As you think of the effect of imperialism, you might wonder what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa are. Well, Europeans were under the Industrial Revolution during the 1800s. This created an urge for raw materials which could be obtained from natural resources. During those times, European countries were too in disputes, creating competition among themselves. The competition was to gain a huge territory. This boosted the colonization of Africa by European countries. However, as a result, the effects of European imperialism involved-
- Depletion of resources,
- The exploitation of labor, and
- Non-industrialisation.
Apart from this, the breaking up of African traditions, lack of political development, etc., are also effects of European imperialism.
The factors of European imperialism involved their own cultures, educational systems, ruling systems, political prowess, and other systematic ways of living, which caused Africa to lose its own cultures and the ways the place was governed. Although the education systems benefited the African countries, they helped unite the Africans, forming several revolutionary movements to fight against the Europeans. Must see Why were Plantation Owners at the Top of Virginia Society?
7. What were Three Effects of European Imperialism on Africa?
With the long-time domination of the Europeans in Africa, the country was shattered entirely in every sector, such as communal harmony, natural reserves, and cultures. Anyway, what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa? Here are the three effects of European imperialism on Africa:
- Africa provided an enormous amount of slaves, which was cheap for the Europeans. Thus, they established the slave trade. However, the slave trade resulted in social discrimination.
- The introduction of European culture slowly demolished the native African culture, which led to disunity among themselves.
- One of the main reasons was to exploit the places rich in natural resources to provide European industries with raw materials. By doing so, they left no resources for the native people.
8. What were 3 Positive Effects of Colonialism?
Although the Europeans came to Africa to exploit the land and people, in some sectors, colonization also had positive effects. Here is the list of 3 positive effects of colonialism:
- Health and Education: Europeans introduced Western Schools and various healthcare facilities and resources, positively impacting the colonized African people. These schools focused on training in civil service occupations. Most African colonies were under the responsibility of the missionaries who aimed to educate the masses. These missionaries educated the African leaders of the political and revolutionary movements. The colonizers lowered the mortality rate by promoting various vaccinations and preventing diseases by establishing various medical centers.
- Political Strife: The colonizing powers established several governing bodies which never existed before. These powers helped to divide the country’s borders without considering the people living there. As a result, it led to the creation of several ethnical countries prone to many war fares.
- Roads and Plantation Mentalities: Due to colonialism, the African territories received various infrastructures such as roads, dams, several irrigation systems, construction canals, railway systems, and many more.
9. What Benefits did the Europeans Bring to Africa?
Although Europeans as a whole brought more negative impacts to Africa, they also bought a few positive aspects. They had invested several resources in the African Infrastructure. They built roadways, railroads, schools, and agricultural infrastructure and introduced medical centers and new health-related facilities. Also, they educated Africans and prevented many diseases. (See What is God Gold and Glory Definition?)
10. What were 3 Negative Effects of Colonialism?
Colonialism had brought several negative impacts on the economic and social structure of Africa. These effects are even active in certain parts of Africa, causing those places to develop slower than the other African states. Here are 3 negative effects of colonialism in Africa:
- Degradation of natural resources,
- Capitalism, and
- Foreign diseases affect the natives and livestock.
We hope this article on what were three effects of European imperialism on Africa was helpful. We may conclude with the fact that the European rule in the country shattered the people not only there but also even after the rule. Its effect caused people to develop slowly. Even today, there are various territories where the impact of European rule is still active. Africa’s several natural resources have been vigorously depleted and are in scarcity. Still, the governing bodies are playing their part in the development of the states. (Also read What are the Sumerian Social Classes?)
