Why did the Europeans control such a small portion of Africa before the age of imperialism?

Why did the Europeans control such a small portion of Africa before the age of imperialism?

Why did the Europeans control such a small portion of Africa in the 1800s? Few Africans bought European goods. However, European businesses still needed raw materials from Africa; Powerful African armies were able to keep the Europeans out of most of Africa for 400 years.

Why did Europe only control about 10% of Africa as late as 1880?

In fact, as late as 1880, Europeans controlled only 10 percent of the continent’s land, mainly on the coast. Furthermore, European travel into the interior on a large-scale basis was vir- tually impossible. Europeans could not navigate African rivers, which had many rapids, cataracts, and changing flows.

Why were Europeans having difficulty traveling into the interior of Africa on a large-scale?

European travel into the interior of Africa on a large-scale basis was virtually impossible. Europeans could not navigate African rivers, which had many rapids, cataracts, and changing flows. Africans’ huge variety of languages and cultures discouraged unity among them.

What factors contributed to the European conquest of Africa?

Causes of colonisation The reasons for African colonisation were mainly economic, political and religious. During this time of colonisation, an economic depression was occurring in Europe, and powerful countries such as Germany, France, and Great Britain, were losing money.

What were Europeans trying to control in Africa?

During this time, many European countries expanded their empires by aggressively establishing colonies in Africa so that they could exploit and export Africa’s resources. Raw materials like rubber, timber, diamonds, and gold were found in Africa. Europeans also wanted to protect trade routes.

What happened to Africa in the 1800s?

The nineteenth century saw immense changes in Africa. Inland the trade in slaves and commodities was handled by African and Arab merchants. With the British abolition of the slave trade in 1807, the British navy took to patrolling the coasts, intercepting other nations’s slave ships.