The Effect of Belgian Colonization in Africa
by Despite its very small size, Belgium built a large empire in Africa between 1880 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. However, in many respects the Belgians treated their colonial subjects with greater brutality than any of their European counterparts.
Despite its own very small size Belgium built a large empire in Africa between 1880 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. However in many respects the Belgians treated their colonial subjects with greater brutality than any of their European counterparts.
Colonies As The King’s Personal Properties
To be technically correct the areas of the African continent taken over by the Belgians belonged to the Belgian king rather than the country of Belgium itself. The majority of the Belgian colonies in Africa were taken over during the reign of King Leopold I.
The Brutality of King Leopold I
King Leopold I proved to be a very harsh even sadistic ruler of his African subjects. During his reign the colonies of the Belgian Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda were gained. In many respects the Belgian king benefited from the imperial rivalry between Great Britain and France. As the British and the French could not agree who would rule these colonies they gave them to Belgium rather than risk a conflict over the issue.
The effect of Belgian colonisation in Africa was to begin very badly for the African populations of the Belgian Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. King Leopold I was determined to exploit the mineral resources of the Belgian Congo irrespective of the suffering of its people.
As Bad As Slavery
Although slavery had been officially abolished decades before King Leopold I gained his colonies in Africa that is effectively what the African populations of those colonies became. The Belgian treatment of their colonial subjects was widely regarded as been cruel and harsh, despite it happening during a period when the European powers were not interested about looking after their respective colonial subjects.
Bibliography
Hobsbawm, E (1994) Age of Extremes, the Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991, Michael
Joseph, London
Lenman B, (2004) Chambers Dictionary of World History, Edinburgh
Roberts J.M, (1996) A History of Europe, Penguin, London
Todd A, (2001) Democracies and Dictatorships – Europe and the World 1919 – 1989, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
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