jjares reviewed Cat and Mouse on the Niger: The History of the Competition Between the British and French for Control of the Niger River on + 3275 more book reviews
This is the story of the 'Scramble for Africa' by European nations in an era of imperialism. I don't recall much discussion of the blatant imperialism discussed in high school, and this book was eye-opening. As European countries were developing their economies with the production of goods for which there weren't enough buyers, these European countries looked for places to sell their goods. In the late 1400s, the Portuguese aggressively traded with African nations on their way to the riches of India. Only Mozambique and Angola were founded and became Portuguese trading partners.
Other Europeans traded along the coastal areas, while the interior of Africa was an unknown entity. As the exploration of Africa became more extensive, the waters, mountains, and watersheds became known. Before long, the Europeans realized that Africa offered vast resources of cheap materials and potential markets for European manufactured goods. Before long, the counties of Europe decided they needed to colonize Africa, to maintain their sphere of influence. King Leopold of Belgium, the Germans, the French, and the English started the 'scramble for Africa.
Otto von Bismarck, the German chancellor, brought the major European powers together to regularize African colonization and avoid serious wars. Called the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 legitimized the scramble for Africa. This book outlines the manipulations and controversies surrounding colonizing Africa by various European countries. These machinations continued until the beginning of World War I. This book indicates that England could use their colonies to strike at the Germans and Ottomans. Later, the British influence in northern Africa would be a thorn in the side of Hitler.
Generally, this was a compelling overview of European imperialism in the late 1800s. The maps included were crucial for understanding the text.
Other Europeans traded along the coastal areas, while the interior of Africa was an unknown entity. As the exploration of Africa became more extensive, the waters, mountains, and watersheds became known. Before long, the Europeans realized that Africa offered vast resources of cheap materials and potential markets for European manufactured goods. Before long, the counties of Europe decided they needed to colonize Africa, to maintain their sphere of influence. King Leopold of Belgium, the Germans, the French, and the English started the 'scramble for Africa.
Otto von Bismarck, the German chancellor, brought the major European powers together to regularize African colonization and avoid serious wars. Called the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 legitimized the scramble for Africa. This book outlines the manipulations and controversies surrounding colonizing Africa by various European countries. These machinations continued until the beginning of World War I. This book indicates that England could use their colonies to strike at the Germans and Ottomans. Later, the British influence in northern Africa would be a thorn in the side of Hitler.
Generally, this was a compelling overview of European imperialism in the late 1800s. The maps included were crucial for understanding the text.
