Question

Between 1800's and 1960's most of African was under the control European countries. What is the main reason that European countries established colonies within Africa?

1.They sought to bring European religion to convert the tribes of Africa
2.They wanted to ""civilize the people of Africa to make them more European
3.They wanted gold, diamonds, copper, and other resources found in Africa
4. All of the above

Answer 1

European countries established colonies in Africa primarily for economic gain, capitalizing on Africa's natural resources and establishing new markets for European goods. The Berlin Conference solidified European territorial claims and spurred on the colonization process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main reason European countries established colonies within Africa was for economic purposes. The colonizing nations sought to exploit Africa's rich natural resources such as gold, diamonds, copper, and other valuable minerals. The colonial powers also aimed to establish new markets for their products, and use the continent for the cheap labor that would produce these resources. The European imperialist push into Africa was motivated by these economic factors, not solely for converting the African populace to European religions or solely for 'civilizing' the continent with European customs, although these were used as justifications for imperial expansion.

The Berlin Conference in 1884 was a critical turning point that accelerated the scramble for Africa, with European powers dividing the continent into spheres of influence, setting the stage for widespread colonization. Despite the multifaceted nature of colonization, which included the spread of Christianity and claims of a 'civilizing mission', the economic motives were at the heart of the European colonial project, as it permitted the extraction of wealth and provided new markets to fuel European industries.