Imperialism in Central Africa
Imperialism in Central Africa
Syed Hussain
November 8th, 2012
Imagine having to live in endless slavery, and having the fear of dying every day just because someone else thought you didn’t work hard enough. This is what happened in Central Africa during the European conquest and after the Berlin Conference. Imperialism and Atrocities were the worst in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is in the heart of Central Africa. Imperialism destroyed Africa in the 19th century, and also destroyed its future and what it could be today.
The Europeans arrival in Africa marked the beginning of the slave trade. The Portuguese landed in the 1480s, and found that slaves were of good use to them. People and ethnic groups began to fight each other. By 1526, slavery was common in Africa. The slave trade caused thousands, millions of Africans to be traded. The Central African region was hit hard from this, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many family members and children were traded, and the population was gravely affected.
After the slave trade came the genocide. Central Africa was ruled over by King Leopold of Belgium, and he was a very cruel leader. Leopold extracted all of the wealth from the area, mining all of the resources that he possibly could. He used the native people as slaves and they all worked for him, mining the resources, cutting down trees, and dying. Leopold traveled and ruled there in an effort to make “civilization” in Africa, though he showed no responsibility for his people and merely killed them if they did not work. He cut the hands of those who did not collect enough rubber. His soldiers, the Force Publique, would kill innocent Congolese and people. The atrocities that took place in the Congo and in Central Africa were horrible. These atrocities met their end after the Belgian government took over the area in 1908. The atrocities continued for a while, though they soon came to an end.
Even though the worst effects of Imperialism are gone, the aftermath remains. Many of the ethnic groups were affected, and the civilizations that were once there are now destroyed. Many people have been killed, and the Belgians and the Europeans left them no help in self-rule. Though Africa still prevails, having problems with their presidents and economies. Central Africa has seven countries now, and they are rich in rainforest and natural resources. Central Africa was hit the hardest of all the areas, though they are rebuilding.
Syed Hussain
November 8th, 2012
Imagine having to live in endless slavery, and having the fear of dying every day just because someone else thought you didn’t work hard enough. This is what happened in Central Africa during the European conquest and after the Berlin Conference. Imperialism and Atrocities were the worst in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is in the heart of Central Africa. Imperialism destroyed Africa in the 19th century, and also destroyed its future and what it could be today.
The Europeans arrival in Africa marked the beginning of the slave trade. The Portuguese landed in the 1480s, and found that slaves were of good use to them. People and ethnic groups began to fight each other. By 1526, slavery was common in Africa. The slave trade caused thousands, millions of Africans to be traded. The Central African region was hit hard from this, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many family members and children were traded, and the population was gravely affected.
After the slave trade came the genocide. Central Africa was ruled over by King Leopold of Belgium, and he was a very cruel leader. Leopold extracted all of the wealth from the area, mining all of the resources that he possibly could. He used the native people as slaves and they all worked for him, mining the resources, cutting down trees, and dying. Leopold traveled and ruled there in an effort to make “civilization” in Africa, though he showed no responsibility for his people and merely killed them if they did not work. He cut the hands of those who did not collect enough rubber. His soldiers, the Force Publique, would kill innocent Congolese and people. The atrocities that took place in the Congo and in Central Africa were horrible. These atrocities met their end after the Belgian government took over the area in 1908. The atrocities continued for a while, though they soon came to an end.
Even though the worst effects of Imperialism are gone, the aftermath remains. Many of the ethnic groups were affected, and the civilizations that were once there are now destroyed. Many people have been killed, and the Belgians and the Europeans left them no help in self-rule. Though Africa still prevails, having problems with their presidents and economies. Central Africa has seven countries now, and they are rich in rainforest and natural resources. Central Africa was hit the hardest of all the areas, though they are rebuilding.