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1400 BCE
Europeans began to sail south.
In the 1400s, during the Golden Age of Exploration, Europeans began to sail south around the continent of Africa in an attempt to reach the wealth of silks and spices found in India and China. In doing so, they learned more about the people and cultures of Africa, especially their wealth. -
1500
European traders began selling Africans guns
Beginning in the 1500s, European traders began to sell Africans guns and European made goods in exchange for slaves. Those slaves were then transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas to work on sugar, rice and cotton plantations. -
1500
Europeans began to build trading posts in Africa
The Europeans began to build trading posts in Africa in the 1500s and by the early 1800s, they were colonizing or taking over another country for the resources it could provide. -
1500
Important trade routes
Europeans knew that Africa had many resources and important trade routes they wanted to control. Britain began by seizing Egypt to gain control of the Suez Canal; a man made waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. France took control over most of western North Africa. -
Europe taking over Africa
By 1900 Europe had taken over nearly all of Africa. The only country to remain uncolonized was Ethiopia though Italy did invade the country in 1930. -
Africans began to seriously rebel against colonization.
In the mid 1900s inspired by the events of World War II Africans began to seriously rebel against colonization. In Ghana in the 1940s Kwame Nkrumah introduced the idea of Pan-Africanism which was a belief in the unity of all Black Africans worldwide. -
Britain getting more land,
Britain grabbed more land in western, central and southern Africa while France seized most of West Africa. Germany and Portugal also claimed land in Africa south of the Sahara. By 1900 Europe had taken over nearly all of Africa. The only country to remain uncolonized was Ethiopia though Italy did invade the country in 1930. -
South Africa was granted independence
In 1910 South Africa was granted independence from Great Britain. Although white people were a minority (smaller group) in South Africa, they controlled the government and businesses. -
The worst established colonies by European countries.
By far, the worst of the colonies established by European countries was the Belgium Congo. However, nearly all Africans suffered under colonial rule as their land was taken; they were forced to work for little or no pay and any attempt to rebel was violently crushed. -
Afrikaners made apartheid law
In 1948, white South Africans known as Afrikaners made apartheid law. Apartheid is a policy of legal separation based on race. Under apartheid, black South Africans were forced to live and work where whites demanded. Blacks could not marry white people, and they received poor health care and schooling. -
Sudan gained independence
Sudan gained its independence from Great Britain in 1956. In the northern part of the country most people were Muslim Arabs. In the south most people were not Arab. In addition, many religions were practiced in the south with Christianity being the most common. The country's government was in the north -
Ghana would gain its independence.
Ghana would gain its independence in 1957. Pan-Africanism inspired Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya and Nnamdi Azikiwe in Nigeria to agitate for freedom. -
Africans began to seriously rebel against colonization.
In the mid 1900s inspired by the events of World War II Africans began to seriously rebel against colonization. In Ghana in the 1940s Kwame Nkrumah introduced the idea of Pan-Africanism which was a belief in the unity of all Black Africans worldwide. Ghana would gain its independence in 1957. -
Nigeria became independent.
In 1960 Nigeria became independent after a fierce struggle against the British. Life was not perfect in Africa after independence. Countries that had been colonized were economically devastated. -
Belgium Congo became independent
Belgium Congo became independent in 1960. The country was unable to create a stable, fair government. As a result, in 1965 Joseph Mobutu seized power. He renamed the country Zaire and ruled uninterrupted for 32 years. The suffering of the people of Congo continued due his corruption and violence. -
The Kikuyu people of Kenya began a political organization
The Kikuyu people of Kenya began a political organization in the 1920s to fight for freedom from Great Britain. It took years but Kenya became independent in 1963. Jomo Kenyatta would become the newly independent Kenya’s first leader. -
The Igbo people tried to declare themselves independent
In 1976 the Igbo people tried to declare themselves independent. They named their new country Biafra. The actions of the Igbo launched a civil war in which over one million people died before the Igbo agreed to remain part of Nigeria.