Question

Why were Europeans interested in colonizing Africa? Africa had an abundance of raw materials for industry. Africa exported a lot of tea. Africa was a potential market for European products of industry. Africa was an important part of the spice trade.

Answer 1

The correct answer is a) Africa had an abundance of raw materials for industry.

At the end of the 19th-century, European powers were going through the Industrial Revolution and, therefore, they needed a large number of raw materials in order to supply their increasing industrial production. For this reason, between 1884 and 1885 in the Conference of Berlin all these powers met and decided to partition Africa among them in order to colonize it and exploit its resources.

Answer 2

Europeans saw Africa as a rich source of raw materials to use in industry and as a market for European products of industry. Also, it was felt that having a colonial empire at this time was part of being a European power, in order to be able to compete. Furthermore, some Europeans felt that they were superior to Africans and were therefore justified in conquering what they thought were the backward peoples of Africa.