2: Africa:

History of Colonization

Early Colonization


We are going to start learning about Africa by focusing on the overall history of the continent. We will look at how Africa went from being the "cradle of civilization" to being colonized by European powers to all levels of development today.

Height of Colonization

TASK: Create and then complete this graphic organizer in your notebook.

EH U4 Social Studies Textbook Page

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Part Two: Challenges in the 21st Century

STEP ONE: We are going to explore the topics that are impacting Africa the most in the 21st Century

In the video we will explore topics such as the impact of colonization to the difficult road most countries faced when they became independent. Now there are issues such as famine, war, desertification, etc. that make it challenging to move ahead as a country and become more developed.

U5 Challenges in the 21st Century

Focus Questions:

  • What was the Berlin Conference? How did this shape the countries of Africa?
  • What are challenges that exist as a result of colonization?
  • Who have been important individuals in the movement towards independence and development?
  • What is nationalism, and how did this play a role in African countries?

STEP TWO: We will then evaluate the issues that exist in African countries in the Scramble for Independence.

In the video we will see how countries struggled to become independent and then faced even more challenges once they became independent. This video does a great job depicting how life was changed during and after colonization, especially how direct rule led to "mini-European cities" in Africa.

How has a particular country come to have a certain government and economy? Why do they rely on trading specific items or dislike their neighbor? Why would a country be in a civil war for over 30 years - as long as it has been a country?

We will get to answer these questions by focusing on one country and getting to understand its complex history by tracing who they were prior to being colonized, why they were colonized, what happened during this process and then how this time period continues to impact them today.

Enrichment: What is the danger of a single story?

Task: Watch the video and answer the questions below in your notebook.

1. What is a single story?

2. What was one of her experiences with a single story (childhood, college experiences, immigration, etc)? *Do you have an experience of a single story?

3. How would you explain a "single story" to someone?

4. How did the lessons about colonization and learning about the history of Africa help expand your understanding of peoples in Africa?

5. How can we go beyond a "single story"?