The governance and administration of the Empire
Key issue(s)
Berlin Conference (1884–1885); imperial rivalry, metropolitan influence
Berlin Conference (1884–1885); imperial rivalry, metropolitan influence
Imperial rivalries are often referred to as part of the cause of World War I and many students will be familiar with this notion. This is likely to be one of the least ‘unknown’ or inaccessible aspects of the key topic.
Internet Resources
There are some very good links to sources on explanations of New Imperialism, motives and attitudes and contested responses at the following source website.
Here is an Animated Atlas of African History, and a list of the Colonial Names of African States.
There is an interesting Radio 4 discussion of the Berlin Conference on ‘In Our Time’, which is still available for download.
A basic but clear overview of ‘The Scramble’: Slavery and the 'Scramble for Africa (BBC).
Full text of Treaty of Berlin.
There are some very good links to sources on explanations of New Imperialism, motives and attitudes and contested responses at the following source website.
Here is an Animated Atlas of African History, and a list of the Colonial Names of African States.
There is an interesting Radio 4 discussion of the Berlin Conference on ‘In Our Time’, which is still available for download.
A basic but clear overview of ‘The Scramble’: Slavery and the 'Scramble for Africa (BBC).
Full text of Treaty of Berlin.
An important element for metropolitan influence to include in discussion of the ‘costs-benefits’ is the degree to which metropolitan ‘interest groups’ such as industrialists, investors and workers themselves benefited from imperial growth. Other factors influencing the expansion of British imperialism is the role of ‘settler colonies’.
Internet Resources
The debates focused on the diverse opinions of Offer and Ferguson also include these issues: Offer in particular proposes that few in the metropole benefited as it led to a more unequal society.
The letters and diaries of Jesse Campbell, a settler who moved to New Zealand in the 1840s, give valuable insight into the experiences of settler communities.
The role of settler communities can also be factored into discussions of imperial rivalries e.g.: the South African War (formerly sometimes called the Boer Wars). See a basic background here from BBC.
The debates focused on the diverse opinions of Offer and Ferguson also include these issues: Offer in particular proposes that few in the metropole benefited as it led to a more unequal society.
The letters and diaries of Jesse Campbell, a settler who moved to New Zealand in the 1840s, give valuable insight into the experiences of settler communities.
The role of settler communities can also be factored into discussions of imperial rivalries e.g.: the South African War (formerly sometimes called the Boer Wars). See a basic background here from BBC.
