• Syllabus

8: European imperialism and the partition of Africa (1850–1900)

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Sub sections and their related questions

Growth of European activity in Africa: opportunities presented by the decline of the Ottoman Empire; traders, missionaries and explorers; creeping colonization

• 18M.3op1.HL.TZ0.15:

  To what extent was the decline of the Ottoman Empire the most significant reason for the growth of European activity in Africa?

Economic causes of partition: economic weaknesses in Europe; raw materials; search for new markets; role of chartered companies

• 17M.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: “Economic weaknesses in Europe were the main cause of the partition of Africa.” Discuss.
• 18M.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: “The search for new markets was the main economic cause of the partition of Africa.” Discuss.
• 19N.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: To what extent did chartered companies play an important role in the partition of Africa?

Strategic causes of the partition: the sea route to the east; British actions in Egypt and South Africa, and the responses of other European powers

• 17N.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: Evaluate the impact of British actions in Egypt and South Africa on the partition of Africa.
• 18N.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: To what extent was the partition of Africa caused by British concerns over control of the sea...
• 19M.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: “The response of other European powers to British actions in Egypt and South Africa was the main...
• 21N.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: “Strategic factors were the most important reasons for the partition of Africa.” Discuss.

Other causes: national rivalry; humanitarian factors

• 20N.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: Evaluate the role of national rivalry in the partition of Africa.
• 22M.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: To what extent was European national rivalry the main cause of the partition of Africa?

African background to partition: military, technological and administrative weaknesses; political and cultural disunity; collaboration

• 19M.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Evaluate the importance of African military, technological and administrative weaknesses to the...
• 21M.3op1.HL.TZ0.15: “African political and cultural disunity was the main reason for partition.” To what extent do...

German annexation: factors facilitating the annexation; the Berlin West Africa Conference and its impact

• 17N.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Evaluate the factors that facilitated German annexation in Africa.
• 19N.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Discuss the impact of the Berlin West Africa conference on the partition of Africa.
• 21M.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Evaluate the impact of the Berlin West Africa Conference on the partition of Africa.
• 21N.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: “The Berlin West Africa Conference had little impact on the partition of Africa.” To what extent...

Activities of King Leopold II of Belgium and De Brazza in the Congo region

• 17M.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Evaluate the impact of Leopold II and De Brazza in the Congo region.
• 18N.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: “The activities of King Leopold II of Belgium in the Congo were a more important factor in...
• 20N.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Compare and contrast the activities of King Leopold II of Belgium and De Brazza in the Congo region.
• 22M.3op1.HL.TZ0.16: Examine the impact of King Leopold II’s activities in the Congo.