Final answer:
European nations, including the British, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, each ruled their African colonies with different systems of governance, ranging from indirect to direct rule, with the consistent aim of resource extraction and control over the territories.
Step-by-step explanation:
European nations employed various techniques for ruling over their African colonies, each with distinct governance styles. The British in Nigeria established indirect rule, relying on local leaders to enforce their authority, a system that utilized pre-existing social structures and leadership. In contrast, the French imposed direct rule in Algeria, with French officials directly overseeing governance and administration, which allowed for closer control over the colony's affairs.
The Portuguese approach in Mozambique was characterized by strict control and suppression of local governance, ensuring that the Portuguese had unchallenged authority over the colony. On the other hand, the Spanish in Equatorial Guinea set up a colonial administration that worked alongside certain local leaders, blending direct oversight with some level of local involvement.
These varying colonial methods had profound impacts on the economic, social, and political landscapes of the African regions they dominated. The overall aim of these colonial policies was extraction of resources and establishment of markets favorable to the colonizing powers, often disregarding the wellbeing and autonomy of the local populations. The legacies of these colonial systems continue to influence the post-independence realities of these nations.