Changes

== History ==

== History ==

===Colonization===

===Colonization===

European nations held the [[Berlin Conference]] in 1884-1885 in order to decide how to divide Africa in order to best suit their interests. No Africans were invited to the conference. Ethnic and cultural differences within Africa were ignored, and lines of demarcation were drawn to aid the [[Europe]]an nations in their quest to subjugate the continent and its peoples. All of Africa, except for [[Ethiopia]] (which resisted Italian control in 1896) and [[Liberia]], was divided and colonized by the European nations.  

European nations held the [[Berlin Conference]] in 1884-1885 in order to decide how to divide Africa in order to best suit their interests. No Africans were invited to the conference. Ethnic and cultural differences within Africa were ignored, and lines of demarcation were drawn to aid the [[Europe]]an nations in their quest to subjugate the continent and its peoples. All of Africa, except for [[Ethiopia]] (which resisted Italian control in 1896) and [[Liberia]], which would become a haven for those returning from slavery, was divided and colonized by the European nations. This colonization was an example of "white man's burden", the belief that the Africans were unable to develop civilization on their own and it was the role of Europeans to provide that. 

Imperialism may be argued to have had both good and bad effects. The Europeans brought advances in technology, built hospitals, and improved the infrastructure, such as [[railroad]]s, [[telephone]]s, [[telegraph]]s, sanitation and other public works; this improved trade and communications and reduced disease. However, as Walter Rodney writes, the idea that Africans benefited from technological advances brought by imperialism is easily countered by the fact that colonialism found Africans practicing agriculture with a hoe, and left Africans practicing agriculture with a hoe.<ref>Walter Rodney, ''How Europe Underdeveloped Africa''. (Washington: Howard University Press, 1974. 219)</ref> Europeans also built schools, but used them to teach European language, culture, and religion rather than respecting local traditions. Literacy did improve as a result, however. Europeans displaced Africans from their individual farms and shifted them into working for European businesses, which resulted in lost control of their land and saw a reduction in their own food crops. African workers were also purchased and shipped to other territories outside of Africa. Europeans disrupted African cultural groups and village life, resulting in arbitrary geographical boundaries that contribute to war and strife to this day.

[[Imperialism]] may be argued to have had both good and bad effects. The Europeans brought advances in technology, built hospitals, and improved the infrastructure, such as [[railroad]]s, [[telephone]]s, [[telegraph]]s, sanitation and other public works; this improved trade and communications and reduced disease. However, technological advances did not affect all areas equally. As Walter Rodney writes, colonialism found Africans practicing agriculture with a hoe, and left Africans practicing agriculture with a hoe.<ref>Walter Rodney, ''How Europe Underdeveloped Africa''. (Washington: Howard University Press, 1974. 219)</ref> Europeans also built schools which, along with teaching general education, also introduced European language, culture, and religion. Literacy improved. Europeans displaced some Africans from farming their lands and shifted them into working for European businesses, which resulted in loss of control of their lands and saw a reduction in food crops. African workers were also purchased and shipped to other territories outside of Africa. European national boundaries were a new concept for much of Africa which was accustomed to small tribal or village living and didn't understand how many such tribes and villages, which often warred with each other, could be put together under one national banner.  This forced nationhood apart from African cultural groups and village life has continued to be a source of strife in african nations to this day.

== External links ==

== External links ==