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European trade with Africa becomes well established
By the mid-1800s, the Europeans had established a solid trading system with the Africans. They exploited their raw materials, such as the sap from rubber plants, and spread Christianity. -
East India Company collapses due to Sepoy Rebellion; British Raj begins
By 1850, there had been much unrest in India. The citizens were discontent with the control of their nation by the British, and were also resentful of the constant racism the British treated them with. In 1857, the Sepoy Rebellion began, spreading from Delhi to northern and central India. -
Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and Red Seas
Egypt's leader, Isma'il supported the construction of the Suez Canal, a human-made waterway that cut through the Isthmus of Suez. Though built using French money, the canal used Egyptian labor. However in 1882, the British occupied Egypt and therefore took control of the Suez Canal. -
Berlin Conference convenes to discuss terms for African colonization
To prevent conflict, 14 European countries met at the Berlin Conference to divide Africa. They paid no attention to the different ethnic and linguistic groups in Africa and no ruler was invited to this conference. -
Queen Liliuokalani takes the throne of Hawaii
When Liliuokalani came to power, American sugar plantations accounted for 75% of Hawaii's wealth. She called for a new constituion that would increase her power, but at the expense of wealthy planters. This decision costed her the crown. in 1893, a group of American businessmen overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. -
Ethiopians defeat the invading Italians at the Battle of Adwa
Ethiopia was the only African nation to maintain its independence during this period of Imperialism due to their great emperor Menelik II. He successfully played Italians, French, and British against each other, while also building an arsenal of weapons purchased from France and Russia. After discovering the Italians deceitful contract, he decalred war and won in the Battle of Adowa and kept his nation independent. -
Spanish-American War breaks out; Puerto Rico, Spain, and the Philippines taken from Spain.
The Filipino nationalists, with Emilio Aguinaldo as their leader, declared themselves independent, claiming that the US had promised immediate independence after the Spanish-American War. The two struggled for three years until the US defeated the Filipinos in 1902. -
Boer War in South Africa
The Boer War was between the British and the Boers, or Dutch farmers. The Boers, the original settlers of southern Africa, blamed the Brtish for attempting to start a rebellion against them. The British won the war in 1910. -
Most of Africa is under European control
After the Berlin Conference in 1884, Europe scrambled to colonize Africa. By 1914, Europeans were in control of every artificially divided up country except for Ethiopia and Liberia. This changed the lives of Africans forever.