Colonialism Political social economic cultural domination of a

Colonialism Political, social, economic, cultural domination of a territory and its people by a foreign power for an extended period of time

2 MAJOR PHASES OF EUROPEAN COLONIALISM l l l PHASE 1: 1490 s— 1820 s Spain & Portugal colonized Central, South, and North America Britain colonized North America, India, Australia (1788), parts of the Caribbean Dutch colonized South Africa, Singapore l France colonized Canada, parts of the Caribbean l 1800 s: Independence Movements began

TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE: 1600— 1800 l Europeans captured West African slaves (in exchange for guns, alcohol, tobacco, etc. ) l Shipped them to the Americas and Caribbean Islands to work on plantations (sugar, cotton, tobacco, coffee) l Beginning of the Global Plantation Economy

2 MAJOR PHASES OF EUROPEAN COLONIALISM PHASE 2: 1850 s— 1950 s l Western Europe colonized Africa, the rest of Asia, and the Pacific Islands l 1914: Britain and French Empires were at their height; EU Empires controlled 85% of world! l 1950 s: Independence Movements started to succeed

RACE 1. CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION No biological basis, although there is often an assumed biological commonality such as shared genes or “blood” n Race categories change over time and vary from place to place 2. GENETIC EVIDENCE Proves that there are more differences within so-called “races” than between them

RACE (cont. ) 3. PHENOTYPE (physical expression of genes) n Many societies define “race” by phenotype, such as: skin color, hair form, facial features, eye color n But…the lines of distinction are not clear n The MEANING of the phenotypic features is culturally constructed

Putting Cultural Ideas into Practice PREJUDICE Devaluing a group because of assumed behavior, values, capabilities, etc. DISCRIMINATION Policies and practices that harm a group and its members RACISM Discrimination against a group assumed to have biological commonality

AFRICA

AFRICA CONTINENT with regions (North, South, East, West) 1776 -1870: Colonized by Europe and US during last phase of colonialism 1807: Britain abolished slave trade 1834: Britain abolished slavery & established “legitimate trade” in cash crops, turning subsistence economies into “mono crop” economies

AFRICA 1884: “Scramble for Africa” at the Berlin Conference on West Africa 1884 -1912: 5 EU nations—Germany, Italy, Portugal, France, Britain ( + Spain, Belgium) sliced Africa up like a pie Most African nations fought for and won independence from their colonizers in the mid-1900 s 1960: Niger became independent from France

NIGER

NIGER Straddles the Sahara & Sahel Deserts Fragile environment of semi-arid brush Farming: shifting cultivation Pre-colonial Economy: trans-Saharan trade in livestock, agricultural products Colonial Economy: cowpea trade (cash crop) Vulnerable to drought & unreliable global commodity markets

NIGER Size: about twice size of TX, 1 of hottest countries in the world Capital: Niamey 2005 population estimate = 11. 6 million Ethnic Groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8. 5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri (Kanouri) 4. 3%, Arab, Toubou, & Gourmantche 1. 2%, about 1, 200 French expatriates Life Expectancy = 42 years Resources: gold, uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, cassava, and rice

NIGER ECONOMY Exports: uranium ore, livestock products, cowpeas, onions Imports: consumer goods, machinery, vehicles and parts, gasoline, cereal 2000: Qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Reduces Niger's annual debt: frees funds for basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs Half Niger’s budget: from foreign donor resources Future growth: may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources

NIGER POLITICS 1993: held first free and open elections 1996 & 1999: military coups led by Tuaregs 1999: National Reconciliation Council facilitated transition to civilian rule Since 1999: President of the Republic, Mamadou Tandja

NIGER RELIGION 80%: Muslim 20%: Christian & indigenous beliefs Fusion of the Worlds: How do the Songhay turn to their indigenous worldview and practices in order to “talk back to” the impending crises of drought and living in poverty?