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HSY2602 Assignment 3
(COMPLETE GUIDELINE)
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 22
April 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
[Pick the date]
[Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of
the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of
the contents of the document.]
,Study Unit 4: The scramble for Africa 1. ‘The bringing of “civilization”,
religion and infrastructure were key factors that motivated the Scramble for
Africa. As a result, European imperialism can be seen as being largely
beneficial for the African continent’. Do you agree with this statement?
Substantiate your examples drawn from the various territories in Africathat
came under the European rule. HSY2602 Study Guide, Pages: 253–294; 298–
320 OR Study Unit 5: Africa under colonial rule 2. ‘Acculturation was the only
response by Africans to imperial domination.’ Do you agree with this
statement? Substantiate your answer with examples drawn from various
territories in Africa that came under European rule. HSY2602 Study Guide,
Pages: 253–297 Study Unit 3: Africa and the slave trade Discuss the impact
that the Atlantic slave trade had on Europe, Africa and the Americas.
(HSY2602 Study Guide, Study Unit 3, Pages: 178-212) Archaeology is the
only means of reconstructing precolonial African history’. Do you agree or
are there other methods? Use examples to illustrate your answer. HSY2602
Study Guide, Pages: 1–25 OR Study Unit 2: Islamic Africa 2. Discuss the
spread of Islam across North and sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its
encounters with various African societies. What were the effects of these
interactions? Provide examples to substantiate your answer. HSY2602 Study
Guide, Pages: 63–81 OR Study Unit 3: Africa and the Slave Trade 3. Discuss
the impact that the Atlantic slave trade had on Europe, Africa and the
Americas. 4. HSY2602 Study Guide, Pages: 178–212
Question 1 Essay Response
Topic: The Scramble for Africa and its Impacts
Statement: ‘The bringing of “civilization”, religion and infrastructure were key factors that
motivated the Scramble for Africa. As a result, European imperialism can be seen as being
largely beneficial for the African continent’.
Introduction:
The Scramble for Africa, which intensified during the late 19th century, was driven by European
imperial ambitions masked under the rhetoric of bringing “civilization,” Christianity, and
infrastructure to Africa. While these justifications were widely used by colonial powers to
legitimize their expansion, the actual outcomes of imperialism were far more complex and, in
many cases, deeply detrimental to African societies. This essay argues that although European
imperialism brought certain developments such as infrastructure and Western education, these
were overshadowed by the exploitative nature of colonial rule, economic exploitation, political
domination, and cultural disruption.
, 1. Motivations Behind the Scramble for Africa:
European powers, especially Britain, France, Belgium, and Germany, were motivated by
economic gain (raw materials and markets), strategic geopolitical positioning, and
national prestige.
The notion of a “civilizing mission” was used to justify conquest, with missionaries
spreading Christianity and Western values.
Infrastructure development (railways, roads, ports) was primarily built to extract and
export resources efficiently—not to benefit local communities.
2. Impacts of Imperialism:
a. Infrastructure and Economic Exploitation
Railways and ports were constructed (e.g., in Kenya, Nigeria, and the Congo), but these
mainly served colonial economic interests.
Cash crop economies replaced diverse subsistence farming, creating dependency on
European markets and damaging food security.
Forced labor systems (such as in King Leopold’s Congo Free State) and taxation forced
Africans into exploitative labor.
b. Education and Religion
Missionary schools introduced literacy and Western education, but access was limited
and aimed at creating a subservient class of clerks and interpreters.
Christianity spread across many regions (e.g., in Uganda and Sierra Leone), often
undermining traditional belief systems and cultural practices.
c. Political and Social Disruption
Artificial borders drawn at the Berlin Conference ignored ethnic and cultural boundaries,
sowing seeds of future conflict.
Traditional leadership structures were undermined or co-opted (e.g., indirect rule in
Nigeria), eroding indigenous governance.
3. Case Studies:
a. Congo Free State (Belgium):
Infrastructure was developed, but under brutal forced labor systems.
Millions died under King Leopold II’s exploitative rubber economy.
HSY2602 Assignment 3
(COMPLETE GUIDELINE)
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 22
April 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
[Pick the date]
[Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of
the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of
the contents of the document.]
,Study Unit 4: The scramble for Africa 1. ‘The bringing of “civilization”,
religion and infrastructure were key factors that motivated the Scramble for
Africa. As a result, European imperialism can be seen as being largely
beneficial for the African continent’. Do you agree with this statement?
Substantiate your examples drawn from the various territories in Africathat
came under the European rule. HSY2602 Study Guide, Pages: 253–294; 298–
320 OR Study Unit 5: Africa under colonial rule 2. ‘Acculturation was the only
response by Africans to imperial domination.’ Do you agree with this
statement? Substantiate your answer with examples drawn from various
territories in Africa that came under European rule. HSY2602 Study Guide,
Pages: 253–297 Study Unit 3: Africa and the slave trade Discuss the impact
that the Atlantic slave trade had on Europe, Africa and the Americas.
(HSY2602 Study Guide, Study Unit 3, Pages: 178-212) Archaeology is the
only means of reconstructing precolonial African history’. Do you agree or
are there other methods? Use examples to illustrate your answer. HSY2602
Study Guide, Pages: 1–25 OR Study Unit 2: Islamic Africa 2. Discuss the
spread of Islam across North and sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its
encounters with various African societies. What were the effects of these
interactions? Provide examples to substantiate your answer. HSY2602 Study
Guide, Pages: 63–81 OR Study Unit 3: Africa and the Slave Trade 3. Discuss
the impact that the Atlantic slave trade had on Europe, Africa and the
Americas. 4. HSY2602 Study Guide, Pages: 178–212
Question 1 Essay Response
Topic: The Scramble for Africa and its Impacts
Statement: ‘The bringing of “civilization”, religion and infrastructure were key factors that
motivated the Scramble for Africa. As a result, European imperialism can be seen as being
largely beneficial for the African continent’.
Introduction:
The Scramble for Africa, which intensified during the late 19th century, was driven by European
imperial ambitions masked under the rhetoric of bringing “civilization,” Christianity, and
infrastructure to Africa. While these justifications were widely used by colonial powers to
legitimize their expansion, the actual outcomes of imperialism were far more complex and, in
many cases, deeply detrimental to African societies. This essay argues that although European
imperialism brought certain developments such as infrastructure and Western education, these
were overshadowed by the exploitative nature of colonial rule, economic exploitation, political
domination, and cultural disruption.
, 1. Motivations Behind the Scramble for Africa:
European powers, especially Britain, France, Belgium, and Germany, were motivated by
economic gain (raw materials and markets), strategic geopolitical positioning, and
national prestige.
The notion of a “civilizing mission” was used to justify conquest, with missionaries
spreading Christianity and Western values.
Infrastructure development (railways, roads, ports) was primarily built to extract and
export resources efficiently—not to benefit local communities.
2. Impacts of Imperialism:
a. Infrastructure and Economic Exploitation
Railways and ports were constructed (e.g., in Kenya, Nigeria, and the Congo), but these
mainly served colonial economic interests.
Cash crop economies replaced diverse subsistence farming, creating dependency on
European markets and damaging food security.
Forced labor systems (such as in King Leopold’s Congo Free State) and taxation forced
Africans into exploitative labor.
b. Education and Religion
Missionary schools introduced literacy and Western education, but access was limited
and aimed at creating a subservient class of clerks and interpreters.
Christianity spread across many regions (e.g., in Uganda and Sierra Leone), often
undermining traditional belief systems and cultural practices.
c. Political and Social Disruption
Artificial borders drawn at the Berlin Conference ignored ethnic and cultural boundaries,
sowing seeds of future conflict.
Traditional leadership structures were undermined or co-opted (e.g., indirect rule in
Nigeria), eroding indigenous governance.
3. Case Studies:
a. Congo Free State (Belgium):
Infrastructure was developed, but under brutal forced labor systems.
Millions died under King Leopold II’s exploitative rubber economy.
