European Society around 1900 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

European Society around 1900 - Essay Example The capacity to explain for the partition of the African continent has been declared an indicator of imperialism theories, and divergent hypothesis have been suggest with immense vehemence. The scale of vehemence produced in the deliberations could be clarified by the verity that numerous key queries are concerned and the diverse responses to the questions inform fundamentally diverse outlooks of historical associations between European and African subjects. The question concerns the link between Africa's partition and the expansion of European capitalism. The debate is viewed as a battle between belief in the existence of relationship between capitalism and partitioning of Africa, and the absence of such a conviction. Another question concerns the nature of partitioning process involved. The question is whether the scramble was a spontaneous unplanned process, or whether it was a deliberate decision by the partitioners. Several reasons are given for the Scramble and partition of Africa by the European colonizers. First, the Europeans seriously needed the raw materials for their industries back in Europe. Some of these raw materials were found in plenty in the African continent and had not been mined by anyone. ... The major European countries involved in the partition of Africa also believed that the holder of biggest colonial domain would be relatively superior to the rival colonialists in power. A common hypothesis given for the French involvement in colonization of Africa was the desire by the French to restore their reputation and pride after losing the Franco-Prussia war (Duignan and Gann 16). Another controversial reason forwarded for the Europeans foray into the African continent is the European obligation to dominate other non-white races. It is suggested that the Europeans believed they had a responsibility to deliver civilization to other "weaker races", by whichever means possible (voluntarily or by coercion). Later in 1899 the British and the French resolved their differences. The British acknowledged the French's Madagascar, while the French recognized the British Nigerian and Zanzibar protectorate. European socio-economic standings went through a major transformation in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The reason for the intense revolution was the extraordinary growth of relations and factors of production, which is generally called Industrial Revolution; although this could appropriately be referred to as the Industrial capitalism breakthrough. This period witnessed a remarkable rise in production capacity and efficiency. Major industrial changes, that had commenced a century prior to the European colonization of Africa, received considerable boost at the onslaught of partition. The cotton industry in Britain is clear illustration of the industries that underwent major expansion at the turn of the century.