Several technological advancements helped enable and accelerate imperialism in Africa in the late 19th century:
1. Military technology: Improved firearms, machine guns, rifles, artillery, etc. gave European militaries a decisive technological advantage over African armies. This allowed them to rapidly conquer territory with relatively few troops. New military tactics and strategies also provided advantages.
2. Communications technology: Advancements like railroads, telegraphs, and improved river transport allowed for faster movement of troops, supplies, and information. This made it easier to coordinate military operations across large areas, extend control, and put down resistance movements. It accelerated the pace of conquest and occupation.
3. Medical advancements: Improvements in medicine, surgery, pharmacology, and public health helped European troops survive and thrive in tropical Africa. New medicines and treatments reduced disease and mortality, allowing for sustained military presence. This also provided incentives for European settlement in Africa.
So in many ways, technologies reduced costs, risks, and challenges of imperialism while enhancing capabilities. They fundamentally transformed the feasibility and speed of conquest, occupation, and colonization of Africa by European powers in the late 19th century. Technology was key to making imperialism more efficient, effective, and aggressive.
2. How did imperialism disrupt the politics and economics of African societies?
Imperialism disrupted African societies in profound ways:
• Loss of political independence and sovereignty. Imposed European rule undermined local kings, chiefs, and authority structures. Colonial governments ruled indirectly via these leaders but still decisively reduced their power.
• Economic restructuring. Local economies were reoriented to serve the interests of colonial powers, focused on export agriculture, mining, and extracting resources. This disrupted subsistence economies, labor systems, trade networks, and more. Many Africans lost land, livelihoods, and economic independence.
• Social upheaval. New systems of taxation, land ownership, labor demands, and infrastructure caused massive social dislocations. People were compelled to migrate for work, family structures changed, and cultural practices were disrupted.
• Inequality increased. While colonialism benefited some African elites and chiefs who cooperated with Europeans, overall inequality increased tremendously. Most Africans faced deprivation, poverty, and had little access to resources or opportunities.
• Resistance and violence. Attempts at resistance, rebellions, and independence movements were often met with violent crackdowns. This led to loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, and despair. Violence shaped the experience of imperialism for many Africans.
• Underdevelopment. Although colonial economies grew, little investment was made in developing African communities or economies for the benefit of the indigenous populations. So, most remained in poverty and lacked social services, education, and economic mobility.
• Dependency developed. Although colonized, Africans came to depend on colonial systems, economies, infrastructure, and institutions. This structural dependency lasted for generations and limited the possibilities of independence.
So in sum, imperialism fundamentally restructured African societies and polities, disrupted economies, caused massive social upheaval, increased inequality, was met with resistance and violence, resulted in underdevelopment, and created dependencies - all of which cast long shadows over emerging nations.