Africa at the XIXe century
This article relates to the Histoire of Africa at the 19th century and of described the situation. The continent is colonized there primarily by the the United Kingdom, the France and the Belgium. In its tropical part, the Quinine allows the installation of their nationals without having too many losses by contagious disease.
Four million Esclave S blacks is off-set by Europeans towards the America during the century.
The South Africa
The British repurchased the colony of the Cape to the Dutchmen in 1814, causing the dissatisfaction with the populations Boer S (colonists of Dutch origin).
- After the suppression of slavery in 1833, Boers immigrate towards new territories in north (Transvaal and Orange), to form new republics.
- the colony of the Cape is equipped with a constitutional mode in 1854.
- In 1877, the British annex the Transvaal causing a first war with Boers.
- Á to start from 1896, the tensions lead to a new war with Boers.
Algeria
After a first failure in 1815, France begins the conquest of the coasts in 1830. This conquest will last more than 15 years, with a savage resistance carried out by the emir Abd El-Kader.
Á to start from 1848, the French endeavor to conquer the territories of the South and those of the Kabylie, and organize the country administratively. The insurrections will continue until in 1881.
After 1879, the territory knows a strong immigration of European populations (Alsatian French in particular and Spanish). They will be called “black feet” because of the color of their boots.
Angola
The territories of Angola, are a Portuguese colony since the end of the 15th century, but this century will know, after the Congrès of Berlin, a strong consolidation of the Portuguese presence.
Benign (ex- Dahomey)
The French become very present on the territory of Benign starting from 1850: treaty of 1851, transfer of the territory of Cotonou in 1868 and protectorate in 1880.
Botswana
British missionaries arrived on this territory as of 1820. They were integrated very well and when the territory was threatened by the Boer S, they obtained the agreement of the king to transform the territory, into allied of the United Kingdom, then in protectorate.
As of 1897, a railway line connected the capital to the Cape.
the Upper Volta (current Burkina Faso)
The country must face, throughout the century, with pushed Islamization carried out by the talibans of El Hadj Oumar Tall, the Bambaras and the Peuls.
Starting from 1896, the French undertake the conquest of the territory because the kingdoms Mossi are weakened, and they feared the arrival of the British.
Burundi
For several centuries the territory had been subjected to a feudal monarchical system, whose population was structured as clans and of socioprofessional categories, surprisingly qualified castes by one or of ethnos groups, even of races, by the others, in which the populations (Hutu, Tutsi and Twa, if one restricts oneself with the socio-professional analyzes, by disregarding clannish reality) were dominated politically by a princely line: the Ganwa.
At the beginning of the century, the king of Burundi Ntare II increases his kingdom, but with its death, the country is divided between its two sons. It annexes Bugesera towards 1800, Imbo and Bushi towards 1820, Buyogoma and Bugufi towards 1840 - 1845.
In the years 1880 and 1890, Burundi is colonized by the Germans and is integrated with the Rwanda into the German Eastern Africa. This country what is called forms also part of the Africa of the big lakes.
Cameroun
As of the 17th century, European tradesmen had established commercial counters throughout the coast of the territory of the Douala S for the very lucrative trade of the ivory, invaluable wood and the black slaves.
Starting from 1827, the British start to be interested in this territory and found commercial counters (1845). Á to start from 1847, the kingdom Bamoun must fight against the projection of the people Peuls and Islamization.
Starting from 1860, the Germans are also interested in the territory and leave to explore the interior of the grounds with Gustav Nachtigal, which signs a series of treaties with the tribes, establishing in fact a German protectorate confirmed with the Congrès of Berlin in 1885. The Germans create large plantations (cocoa, palm trees, hévéas), build roads, a railway and the port of Douala.
Cape Verde
The islands are possessions of the Portugal since the year 1460, and are an important stopover on the road of the Brésil and an important center of draft of the black slaves in departure for Americas.
In the years 1831 with 1833 a terrible dryness falls down on the archipelago, causing the death of 30 ' 000 people.
Slavery is definitively abolished in 1866 whereas most of the economy is founded on the exploitation of the slaves in the great fields. Starting from 1879, an economic serious attack causes a very important emigration and the archipelago is depopulated.
Central Africa
Arrived starting from 1800 approximately of groups of populations which are established on the Oubangui and the means Congo, which include/understand especially the Bobangi. They live intensive exploitation of the resources of the river and give an impulse to the trade (slaves and ivory mainly).
The territory is devastated by the research and the draft of the black slaves, and in particular the country of the Banda S undergoes the many raids of the Arabs of the Bahr Al-Ghazal.
After 1885 and the arrival of Belgian explorers, the territories is divided between Belgium and France, with the river Oubangui like border. The country will be delivered to concessionary companies which will subject the populations to the forced labor.
Archipelago of the the Comoros
The archipelago is placed under French protectorate in 1886. It was for a long time a stage of the Eastern Traite.
Congo Brazzaville
Á the arrival of the first Europeans, in 1482, there was the Royaume of Loango. The draft of the blacks, the wars and the activity of the missionaries will weaken the kingdom then to destroy it. The populations will tend to follow sects like that of Antoniens.
Á to start from 1879 the French Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza explores the territory and signs treaties placing the country under French protectorate. The Congrès of Berlin will fix the borders of them. Colonization is marked by the establishment of concessionary companies which exploits the fabulous natural wealths thanks to the forced labor which will kill more 300 000 people in twenty years.
Congo Kinshasa (ex-Zaire)
It is an immense country and very diversified, on the level of the people, languages, cultures and natural wealths. It was created of any part by the preexistent Belgians starting from kingdom:
- the kingdom of the Kongo towards the Atlantic coast,
- the kingdom Kouba on the provinces of the Western kasaï and Lulua,
- the kingdom Luba on the province of the Katanga.
All these kingdoms were the theater of a very important trade from the coast towards the most remote provinces. Á to leave the 16th century, the country was devastated by the raids of the Arabs, always in the search of slaves. To escape from it from the tribes adopted Islam like religion.
At the 19th century, “commercial princes” African like Msiri in the Years 1850 with the Katanga, or Tippoo-Tip in the Years 1860 in the west of the Lake Tanganyika, establish true kingdoms, but also like the kingdom Zandé and the kingdom Mangbetu.
First great European explorations took place in the Années 1870 behind the British Henry Morton Stanley. In 1881, it founds the town of Léopoldville in the honor of the king of the Belgians, for the account of which it worked. The Congrès of Berlin created the State Indépendant of Congo declared property personal of the king of the Belgians, Léopold II.
The Belgians subdued with brutality many resistances and broke the States of the prince-merchants, under pretext of fight against slavery.
Ivory Coast
The French established since the beginning of the 18th century on the coasts of the territory, find themselves in second half of the century in hard competition with the British, established on the Côte of Gold (Ghana), for the control of the area. The culture of the Café is introduced in 1882 by the colonizers.
Of 1882 with 1897, the French launch out to the conquest of the interior of the grounds, but run up against the resistance of the forces of Samory Touré armed with rifles by the care of the British. The conflict devastated all the area and really only in 1904 finished.
Djibouti
French explorers traversed the territory as of 1837 and the Traité of Obock signed in 1862 establishes a French protectorate on this small but strategic country. The vast deep water port of Djibouti was founded in 1888 and became the port and the natural outlet of the Ethiopia.
In 1898 was created the colony under the name of French Côte of Somalis .
Egypt
After the forwarding of Bonaparte of 1798 with 1801, which broke the Othoman chains, the governor Mohammed Ali founds modern Egypt and reigned of 1805 with 1848. During its reign of many French took part in the modernization of the country.
From 1854 to 1869 the realization of the great project of the Suez Canal by Ferdinand de Lesseps goes to change the chart of the world. In 1882 the British army will unload in Egypt to make it possible to the British to control this new sea route become highly strategic.
Érythrée
Remote Othoman province, the coasts of the territory are occupied starting from 1885 by Italian troops and know a pretense of colonization.
Ethiopia
Century being born finds country parcelled out, of which Church Ethiopian is only source of unification, and whose principal external enemy is Egypt, which launches an attack in 1875, whereas the coasts of the Red Sea are covetousness since the opening of the Suez Canal, of the Italians, the British and the French.
After being itself seized the ports Assab in 1872 and Massaoua in 1885, the Italians assert in 1889 a protectorate on all the Ethiopian territory. The Italian troops end up being overcome by the Ethiopian troops in 1895, and the Italy recognizes the independence of Ethiopia.
Gabon
Installed on the coast as of 1839, the French and their missionaries extend their influence, and Libreville is founded in 1849.
During second half of the century, the territories of the interior are explored and of the agreements are signed with the people of South-east. Between 1875 and 1885 Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza explores the Ogooué and reached the river Congo.
Starting from 1886, the country becomes French colony, of vast concessions are granted and the exploitation of the Okoumé starts.
Gambia
As of 1816, the British occupy this small territory wedged in Senegal, and the French will not be able to dislodge them. After 1889 and an agreement with France, the country becomes in 1894 a British protectorate.
Ghana
Since the previous century, the British dominate this territory, occupied by the people Fanti over the coast.
The Ashanti and their flourishing trade in particular that of the slaves occupy the interior of the grounds. In 1807 the draft of the slaves is abolished by the British Parliament. During all the century, the Achanti resist to the British savagely, progress towards the coast and threaten strong Europeans.
End of the 18th century at the 19th century, the Ashanti kingdom evolves of a rather loose confederal structure ( Amanto ) to a State strongly organized and centralized ( Kotoko ). The asantehene control surface with the opinion of the High council ( Asantemanhuia ), composed of large notable of Kumasi and dignitaries of the various provinces, joins together once per annum. It is doubled by the private Council, very restricted. The administrative machinery develops. The kingdom consists of a metropolitan region (Asante) around Kumasi, surrounded of the interior Provinces, subjected to the 18th century and managed directly, and of external Provinces, whose autonomous populations pay tribute with Kumasi. The cohesion of the unit is ensured by the Odwira , “festival of the yam”, behavior once per annum, which is used at the same time of high court of justice, supreme political assembly and religious ceremony where the prerogatives of the asantehene are reaffirmed.
During the 19th century, the policy to be held vis-a-vis the British divides the Ashanti leading class into two factions, the partisans of peace and those of the war. The kings Osei Bonsu, Kwaku DUA Ier, Mensa Bonsu, Kwaku DUA II will support the negotiation, Osei Yaw and Kofi Kakari will follow a quarrelsome policy.
In 1850 the British repurchase strong Danish and in 1871 those of Holland. The territory is declared colony in 1874, and the British will subject the interior territories, annexed in 1901.
Guinea
The great majority of the populations of the territory are Islamized as of the middle of the century, except for the kingdom of Mossi, which remains attached to its traditional beliefs.
In the third sum of money of the century, Guinea, undergoes the colonizing push of French who, starting from Tombouctou and of the Lac Chad, makes the conquest of the territory and French colony in declares it 1891, in spite of a strong resistance carried out by Samory Touré and the people of the forest. In 1898 the country is entirely subjected and the territories of high-Niger are also annexed in 1899.
Guinea-Bissau
European counters existed on the coast, in particular Portuguese. In 1879 the territory becomes Portuguese colony, but remain different frontier with France, regulated in 1886, and a certain resistance of the populations until in 1915.
Guinea Equatoriale
The territory became Spanish since the Traité of Prado in 1778 by which Portugal yields the islands of Fernando Poo and the territory of Rio Muni.
The Spaniards emphasize especially the colony of Fernando Poo by subjecting to the forced labor the people Bubi, in spite of revolts.
Kenya
At the beginning of the century, on the coast, the sultanate of Oman, with the agreement of the British, makes the conquest of the territories Zenj located at the north of the Cape Delgado, to establish there counters commercial, based inter alia on the draft of the black slaves, fact prisoners inside the grounds and delivered to the Arab tradesmen.
Starting from 1873, the British abolish slavery, and annex little by little all the Kenya, transforming it into colony, officialized in 1885. They build starting from 1896 the railway line on the basis of Mombasa on the coast towards the Lake Victoria and attract colonists on the best grounds.
Lesotho
White tradesmen are installed on the territory at the beginning of the century.
Years 1820 at the years 1860, the country undergoes the raids Zoulou S, the colonizing push of the Boer S, to finish under British protectorate in 1868.
Liberia
Until the beginning of the century, the coast was especially reserved for the trade of the slaves. Starting from 1821, the American Colonization Society obtains, of the local leaders, the grounds to the mouth of the Saint-Paul river, with an aim of supporting the return of American black slaves on the African ground.
The first built city takes the name of Monrovia in the honor of the US president John Monroe. Other colonies settle on the coast in spite of the opposition of the populations autochtones which feel excluded.
In 1841, Joseph I, kins Roberts becomes the first black governor. In 1847, the new country adopts a constitution and becomes an independent republic and Roberts is its first president. The vote censitaire ensures the political domination of the populations of American origin.
In second half of the century, Liberia tries to extend its territory towards the interior of the grounds but runs up against the territories of the European colonies.
Mali
The French colonial penetration on the territory of current the Mali proceeds during second half of the 19th century. The colonial army with Louis Leon César Faidherbe runs up against the resistance of El Hadj Oumar Tall, in particular at the time of the Siège of the fort of Médine in 1857 and of Samory Touré captured in 1898. In July 1891, the French Sudan is created. It becomes the colony of high Senegal Niger in 1904 to take again its name in 1920 after the creation of the the Upper Volta. French Sudan is integrated into the French Western Africa in 1895.
Uganda
The expansion of the Bouganda continues with the detriment of the Bounyoro, by the tender of tributary kingdoms (Busoga, Bwera, Buhaya, Kooki) or of kingdoms customers (Karagwe, Kiziba, Busubi, Buzinza). Close contacts and frequent were established as of the end of the 18th century between the Arab kabaka Kyabagou and tradesmen and Europeans established on the Eastern coast of Africa. The exchanges intensify under the reigns of Semakokiro and its successor Suna II (death in 1856).
The decline of the Bounyoro continues in spite of the resistance of the moukama Kamurasi (death in 1869) to the encroachments of Bouganda.
Independence of the Toro (Uganda), old province of the Bounyoro. Toro controls the salt mines of Katwe, the grounds considered for their pastures and the access of the roads leading to the coast Swahili.
Bouganda knows at the 19th century a remarkable political stability favourable with the territorial expansion and royal hegemony. The country has a rich person agriculture who occupies mainly the women. The men get busy to some extent in the craft industry (fabrics, boats, constructions), provide the corvéables charged to maintain the highway network or engage in the army. This rich person economy allows to maintain a many bureaucracy which attempts to reinforce the State. The capacity of the kabaka is maintained by ceremonies and the ritual ones court very elaborate, by the ideology of the crowned royalty and the worship of the lubale (spirits) with which the king is supposed being in permanent relation.
The economy of the kingdoms of the area of the Big lakes is based on agriculture with the cultures of the banana tree (Bouganda) and of the cereals (Eleusine, sorghum) associated with the bovine breeding (Burundi). The American plants (bean, corn, manioc, sweet potato, tobacco), introduced as from the 17th century, spread and ensure a greater food safety. The trade, generally royal monopoly, remain regional (rock salt of Katwe, iron of Karagwe and Bounyoro, fabrics of Bouganda, coffee, tobacco). The company of the States interlacustres is divided into complementary classes (Hima, tutsi, Bairu, Hutu…), bound by contracts of “customers” (ubuhake and ubuletwa in Rwanda).
Rwanda
During all the XIX century Rwanda will still remain with the variation of the Western influence. It seems known starting from the XIX century old middle by indirect accounts and it is evoked with the Conférence of Berlin in 1885.
The sovereigns of Rwanda (Yuhi IV, Gahindiro, Mutara II Rwoogera and Kigeri IV Rwaabugiri, died in 1895) consolidate the conquests of their predecessors. The expansion is prepared by reforms allowing a larger control of space: establishment of permanent military camps and creation of command soldiers in the border regions.
It is penetrated only in 1894 by Gustav Adolf von Götzen, officer German who will establish the first contacts with the king of the Rwanda.
Like the Burundi, its fraternal twin, Rwanda is at the time a monarchy of the feudal type. But its sophisticated organization will cause the astonishment in the first colonists. As of the beginning, theories of African shifts in population not confirmed will involve tough misinterpretations in the comprehension of this country. They are probably inspired by some specific discoveries in rather close areas, and wrongly generalized with the Rwanda, undoubtedly because of contemporary racial prejudices which did not admit that Africans can have an elaborate civilization. One thus regarded the dominant category of the Rwandan population as white Negro , mongrels, which reinforced the initial misinterpretation.
Sudan
Towards 1800, the Egyptian authorities exert a full and whole sovereignty to the first cataract. Between the first and the third cataract, are the countries called by the Turks Berberistan and Have-Saïdi by the Arabs, placed under the direction of a government recognizing the authority of the Khedive. Beyond extend the fields of the sultan from Foundj and the countries known under the name of Nubie, Sennar or Abyssinie. The border of the Arab language and the Islam is inserted to the southernmost edges of the kingdom of the Darfur and Foundj.
The trade between Sudan and the Egypt passes by the roads of Siouah to the west, Sennar along the Nile and of Darfur by darb Al-arbain (forty day old road). It is dominated at the end of the 18th century by the Jallaba, which resell the Sudanese goods with intermediaries for the Egyptian market or export. It regresses after the French occupation of Egypt (1798-1801) and with the anarchy which results from it, to set out again starting from 1813. It is mainly centered on the traffic slave trader.
See too
External bonds
- Texts on the colonization of Africa at the XIXe century
| Random links: | Pages of prime numbers | View-point (company) | Season 2006-2007 of the Canadians of Montreal | Cascadia | Henri Lelevel |