Why did it take so long for Europe to colonize Africa?

Malaria and other tropical diseases are among top reasons. Quinine was discovered on the XIX century, and will allow more european to survive local climate. Before that, Europeans could not settle inland.

Why did the Europeans wanted to colonize 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.

Did Greece colonize Africa?

The Greek colonies expanded as far as the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. In North Africa, on the peninsula of Kyrenaika, colonists from Thera founded Kyrene, which evolved into a very powerful city in the region.

When did Africa colonize Europe?

Colonization of western Africa. The European scramble to partition and occupy African territory is often treated as a peripheral aspect of the political and economic rivalries that developed between the new industrial nations in Europe itself and that were particularly acute from about 1870 to 1914.

Which two African nations were not controlled by European countries?

Key Takeaways. Ethiopia and Liberia are widely believed to be the only two African countries to have never been colonized.

When did the Portuguese explore the West African coast?

The Portuguese in Africa, 1415–1600. As a consequence, most of the West African coast was explored in the period from 1415 into the 1600s. However, more than 175,000 slaves were also taken to Europe and the Americas during this period. In fact, they encountered urban centers in West Africa comparable to those back in Europe,…

Why did Portugal colonize Sierra Leone in 1460?

It was this search that led the Portuguese down the coast of West Africa to Sierra Leone in 1460. Due to several technological and cultural advantages, Portugal dominated world trade for nearly 200 years, from the fifteenth to the sixteenth century.

How did the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1891 affect Africa?

The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1891 formalized Portugal’s imperial borders in Africa with a fairly relaxed definition of “effective occupation.” The treaty, however, also required Portugal to exercise systematic control of its African colonies and to expand the Portuguese presence in Africa.

How did the Portuguese develop the African trade?

The Portuguese African trade evolved from raids along the African coast that began in 1441 to more peaceful exchanges with African chieftains and merchants by the 1450s. The trade in African slaves soon extended from Mauritania to the area along the upper Guinea coast.