The Scramble for Africa
White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912

Pakenham, Thomas

Publisher: Perennial
Year First Published: {19230 The Scramble for Africa SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912 Pakenham, Thomas Perennial Describes the brief vicious scramble by Europe's imperial powers to seize colonies throughout the continent of Africa. Pakenham strips the impresarios of imperialism of their veneer of Victorian heroism and reputations for statemanlike vision, to reveal them as men with bloated and often vicious egos. 1991 2003 738pp BC19230-ScrambleAfrica.jpg B Book 0-380-71999-1 DT28.P34 960.3 Up until the late 19th century (1870), many aspects of Africa remained to unknown to Europeans except for the coastal trading posts and the "strategic colonies" of South Africa and Algeria. Then, in the period Thomas calls "the Scramble," European rulers from France, England, Belgium, Germany and Italy moved in to dominate the entire continent as colonial and protectorate rulers over newly subjugated territories. Leopold II, King of Belgium, took advantage of the rivalry between England and France to achieve effectively control over much of the continent. Why did this intensified rush into Africa occur? The Scramble for Africa fills this gap with two strands of stories: the motives and methods of the invaders. These motives ranged from romantic nationalism to racial patriotism. The European invaders believed they would save Africa from itself. Thus, in May 1873 missionary explorer David Livingstone's declaration of the "3C's": Commerce, Christianity and Civilization in the name of God, Mammon and social progress for Africa, established trade rather than slavery as the continent's future. Africa promised economic benefits for Europe becasue of its diversified resources; including diamonds, gold, silk and gin. Furthermore, with a stronger influx into Africa came the prestige of becoming a dominant political power and the associated diplomatic advantages. England, who pioneered the invasion, became territorial and insecure as other states followed suit. As a coastal state she needed to protect the steamer routes on both ends of the country, which could be blockaded by her rivals. Consequently, Livingstone's initial goals resulted in the primary brutal method used by Europeans and the fourth unannounced "C": Conquest. Europe won over Africa at gun point through several wars and atrocious mass killings that were especially common during the first phase of occupation. Pakenham retells this story and relates how the conquered gained some retribution 50 years later when Africa fought for and achieved independence. [Abstract by Amanpreet Dhami] Table of Contents Part I: The Open Path 1. Leopold's Crusade 2. Three Flags Across Africa 3. Two Steps Forward 4. The Crouching Lion 5. Ismael's Dream of Empire 6. One Step Backward 7. Saving the Bey 8. Saving the Khedive Part II: The Race Begins 9. The Race for the Pool 10. Head in the Clouds 11. Hewett Shows the Flag 12. Why Bismarck Changed his Mind 13. Too Late? 14. Welcome to a Philanthropist Part III: Rights of Conquest 15. Gordon's Head 16. The Sultan's Flag 17. Cries from the Heart 18. Dr Emin, I Presume? 19. Salisbury's Bargain 20. An Insubordinate Army 21. A New Rand? 22. Msiri's Mocking Smile 23. The Flag Follows the Cross 24. An Ivory War 25. Blank Treaty Forms on the Niger 26. A Lion's Share 27. Rhodes, Raiders and Rebels 28. Calling Hanotaux's Bluff 29. The Race to the Middle of Nowhere 30. The Mahdi's Tomb 31. Milner's War Part IV: Resistance and Reform 32. The Severed Hands 33. The Kaiser's First War 34. 'Maji-Maji' 35. Redeeming the French Congo 36. Restoring Britain's 'Old Ideals' 37. Leopold's Last Throw Epilogue: Scrambling Out Chronology Sources Select Bibliography Notes Index CX8161 1 false true false CX8161.htm [0xc000bfd3e0 0xc000c38a50 0xc001adc750 0xc001be0990 0xc001be09c0 0xc001cde9f0 0xc001cdf890 0xc001dd2990 0xc0002fc810 0xc00030e900 0xc00030ec30 0xc00030f710 0xc00030fa40 0xc00030fec0 0xc00022a150 0xc00025e660 0xc000558180 0xc0002f8240 0xc00048f7d0 0xc00082d140 0xc0006c30b0 0xc0020e9920 0xc000317ec0 0xc0008b64e0 0xc0003a8e40 0xc0016ebd70 0xc0016ebe00 0xc001ae29c0 0xc0014b5fb0 0xc00255a450 0xc00255aed0 0xc0005d7620 0xc000dc8750 0xc001651890 0xc001792810 0xc0026950e0 0xc002a87f80] Cx}
Year Published: 2003
Pages: 738pp ISBN: 0-380-71999-1
Library of Congress Number: DT28.P34 Dewey: 960.3
Resource Type: Book
Cx Number: CX8161

Describes the brief vicious scramble by Europe's imperial powers to seize colonies throughout the continent of Africa. Pakenham strips the impresarios of imperialism of their veneer of Victorian heroism and reputations for statemanlike vision, to reveal them as men with bloated and often vicious egos.

Abstract:
Up until the late 19th century (1870), many aspects of Africa remained to unknown to Europeans except for the coastal trading posts and the "strategic colonies" of South Africa and Algeria. Then, in the period Thomas calls "the Scramble," European rulers from France, England, Belgium, Germany and Italy moved in to dominate the entire continent as colonial and protectorate rulers over newly subjugated territories. Leopold II, King of Belgium, took advantage of the rivalry between England and France to achieve effectively control over much of the continent.

Why did this intensified rush into Africa occur? The Scramble for Africa fills this gap with two strands of stories: the motives and methods of the invaders.

These motives ranged from romantic nationalism to racial patriotism. The European invaders believed they would save Africa from itself. Thus, in May 1873 missionary explorer David Livingstone's declaration of the "3C's": Commerce, Christianity and Civilization in the name of God, Mammon and social progress for Africa, established trade rather than slavery as the continent's future. Africa promised economic benefits for Europe becasue of its diversified resources; including diamonds, gold, silk and gin. Furthermore, with a stronger influx into Africa came the prestige of becoming a dominant political power and the associated diplomatic advantages. England, who pioneered the invasion, became territorial and insecure as other states followed suit. As a coastal state she needed to protect the steamer routes on both ends of the country, which could be blockaded by her rivals. Consequently, Livingstone's initial goals resulted in the primary brutal method used by Europeans and the fourth unannounced "C": Conquest. Europe won over Africa at gun point through several wars and atrocious mass killings that were especially common during the first phase of occupation. Pakenham retells this story and relates how the conquered gained some retribution 50 years later when Africa fought for and achieved independence.

[Abstract by Amanpreet Dhami]

Table of Contents

Part I: The Open Path
1. Leopold's Crusade
2. Three Flags Across Africa
3. Two Steps Forward
4. The Crouching Lion
5. Ismael's Dream of Empire
6. One Step Backward
7. Saving the Bey
8. Saving the Khedive

Part II: The Race Begins
9. The Race for the Pool
10. Head in the Clouds
11. Hewett Shows the Flag
12. Why Bismarck Changed his Mind
13. Too Late?
14. Welcome to a Philanthropist

Part III: Rights of Conquest
15. Gordon's Head
16. The Sultan's Flag
17. Cries from the Heart
18. Dr Emin, I Presume?
19. Salisbury's Bargain
20. An Insubordinate Army
21. A New Rand?
22. Msiri's Mocking Smile
23. The Flag Follows the Cross
24. An Ivory War
25. Blank Treaty Forms on the Niger
26. A Lion's Share
27. Rhodes, Raiders and Rebels
28. Calling Hanotaux's Bluff
29. The Race to the Middle of Nowhere
30. The Mahdi's Tomb
31. Milner's War

Part IV: Resistance and Reform
32. The Severed Hands
33. The Kaiser's First War
34. 'Maji-Maji'
35. Redeeming the French Congo
36. Restoring Britain's 'Old Ideals'
37. Leopold's Last Throw

Epilogue: Scrambling Out
Chronology
Sources
Select Bibliography
Notes
Index

The Scramble for AfricaWhite Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912

Subject Headings

The Scramble for Africa
White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912