3-Africa

=Africa, 1750-1914=

=Political=
 * Europeans venture farther into Africa's interior than ever before.
 * British take control of south Africa after series of battles known as the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815)
 * Allows British to explore South Africa + its interior regions.
 * The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) laid down the laws to which the Europeans could colonize Africa.
 * Conflict in Belgian Congo where King Leopold ruled brutally over the native population.
 * So brutal, taxes so high, abuse, and forced labor made many humanitarians protest King Leopold regime.

=Economic=
 * Originally a mostly export continent. Exported mass amounts of slaves. Lots of natural resources to be found.
 * After Cecil Rhodes began his diamond mining, it brought many more imperialists to Africa to seek wealth in the natural resources.
 * As colonization grew, Africa's economy grew as well.

=Religious=
 * Originally had indigenous religions. There was a supreme creator, but there were also lesser spirits, often associated with geographical features. Dead ancestors also could influence the peoples lives if their descendants didn't honor them.
 * Islam became popular in commercial centers of west Africa and Swahili city-states. Africans blended Islam with the indigenous beliefs and customs.
 * Africans also followed Christianity, some believing that missionaries were missionaries and crosses could be worn to ward off bad spirits.
 * Dona Beatriz formed the Antonian form of Christianity and used it to try and end the wars in Kongo. She said Jesus was a black African and Kongo was the real Holy Land.

= = =Social= = = =Intellectual=
 * Kinship groups were the bases for social organization, and sometimes political organization, in early African society.
 * Interaction with Europeans brought new commodities such as textiles and european steel. They also got new food crops that expanded their diets.
 * Population went from about 34 million in the 1500sto 60 million in the 1800s.

= = =(Technology)=

= = =Near Geographic=
 * The "BC" also split up Africa into regions chosen by themselves (Europeans).
 * Split up lands based on resources.
 * NO African present during the Berlin Conference