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Lasting Impact of Imperialism in North Africa
The French, Spanish, and British nations settled and colonized the lands of North Africa. Those European nations thought that they were doing a service to the native peoples and attempted to civilize them. When World War Two passed, those nations decided to hand over the powers to the native people, establishing today the countries of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Although these countries have been long gone from their territory, there have been many lasting effects of this great colonization period, and some of the consequences include the following: lasting influences by those who colonized many years ago and technological advances.
To start, there are many lasting influences by those who settled in Africa. For example, take Algeria. Although French is not the native tongue, it is considered the lingua franca, or the language that is used to communicate Algeria’s ideas to the world [1]. The French were the ones who settled in Algeria in a tremendous colony called French North Africa (now Algeria and Morocco). The French owned a huge portion of western Africa.
Also, another lasting influence is the modernization and the advancement of technology. The most prime example would be Egypt. Although the Suez was not built under British occupation, it was built in 1869 by a French company under head by Ferdinand de Lesseps [2]. Modernization widespread was another aftermath of imperialism in North Africa; the Suez Canal was one of the more iconic spread of technology, modernization, and inevitably, Europeanization. Modernization, although it has not always positively affected the people of Africa, in general, it has bettered the lives of many Africans who may be living in poverty. Some other positive effects of imperialism, however, are the construction of roads, railways, essentially “economizing” them for the future [3].
Although there are many positives in the lasting results of imperialism in North Africa, keep in note that there are also many negative consequences in the legacy of imperialism there. First off, countries like Britain or Belgium, although they worked to better the value of the land, they disregarded the concern of the native peoples, and instead, essentially forced them to work – slave labor [3]. With the fact in light, it is safe to conclude that the British, Belgians, or in fact, any European country with control of a part of Africa were using the lands they had acquired to derive profits. Also, it is safe to note that although the positives were implemented – roads, schools, churches, etc. – the native people did not have access to such commodities, and instead, they were for the interest of the British.
Also, another negative consequence of imperialism that has had an impact on today’s North Africa is the aftermath and the corrupt governments. There was once a cartoon dubbed “The German Cartoon” and it depicted the corruption of the people in this fashion: the man in a machine is drinking heavy alcohol and/or liquor, they’re minds corrupted, money taken away, and religion being washed upon [3]. The newborn African countries, already brainwashed by counts of torture by Europeans, are just getting set free after international pressures to do so. Because of the desperation of people, those who stepped in power just took the money for themselves. The corrupt leaders, Mobutu for example, they tried to erase the past, but over the term, the gain was not for the country – but rather for themselves. Thus, it is safe to conclude that an immediate, even current consequence of imperialism is corruption in the government.
Lasting consequences of the imperialism of North Africa included advances in technology and the corruption of governments. Like most of Africa, North Africa has shared its fair share of unjust treatment of people through imperialism or essentially a European takeover of Africa. Again, although there are many positive comings of imperialism, it is safe to say that the world will more so remember the consequences and the suffering of the African people as the result of imperialism.
Effects of Geography in North Africa
North Africa has always been the place for the most famous desert in the world, the Sahara. The Sahara engulfs North Africa in its entirety in terms of its location and even its size. However, the Sahara has been expanding at an alarming rate, in a process called desertification. Desertification, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the process of becoming desert [1]. Thus, an issue today faced by the North Africans is the issue of desertification; with the lost of productivity and the displacement of people being the consequences.
To begin with, the lands south of the Sahara – and still part of Northern Africa – are being affected due to the effects of desertification. According to the United Nations, the productive land lost each year due to desertification is approximately 12 million hectares, or the area of about South Africa [2]. The lost of productive land means that less food products can be grown, and with the projected population of nine billion by 2050[2], the entire world might be faced with shortages to an extreme.
Many factors can be blamed for the desertification of lands south of the Sahara. For example, one possible cause of African desertification is the over-intensive farming of the land [3]. The population spike in Africa particularly is the probable cause of this. More population means that there are more people to feed, and lands may be overused meaning a reduction and erosion to top-soil. After the top-soil withers away, then the desert rolls in basically. One other reason why desertification might happen in the Sahara is that animals eat grasses and that when they consume too much of the grasses, the topsoil erodes away [3].
Also, another consequence of desertification is the displacement for people. According to the United Nations, by 2020, 50 million people in the world might be displaced due to food shortages and the advancing desert [3]. Many of these people are from Africa, and many of those from Africa tend to be poor. With the ever-rising population of Africans, the vulnerability of those living in the Sahel region is particularly at risk of displacement. Given the circumstances of the potential extent of this disasters, 11 countries banded together to discuss planting a big “Green Wall” to combat desertification [4]. This wall would span 11 countries, the same 11 that are discussing the situation [4]. The objective of the wall is that to lock down topsoil and reduce winds so that less sand can accumulate in the areas at risk.
Given the efforts to combat desertification are positive first steps, but the consequences of desertification remain: displaced people and productive land lost. In order to effectively put a stop to desertification, African nations that have land at risk must band together to discuss solutions to the ever-growing problem. North Africa can fare much better, especially for the people south of the Mediterranean zone (Tunis, Cairo, etc.) if they are able to halt their growing issue – desertification. Lasting Impact of Imperialism in North Africa
Works Cited
CIA – The World Factbook. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html>
University of Houston.“No. 1257. The First Suez Canal.” <http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1257.htm>
Effects of Imperialism. <http://www.aldridgeshs.eq.edu.au/sose/modrespg/imperial/essays/effects.htm>
Definition of Desertification in Merriam-Webster Dictionary. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desertification>
“United Nations. General Assembly High-Level Meeting on 20 September Will Focus on Actions to Reverse Increasing Loss of Productive Lands in World’s Dry Regions Affecting More than 2 Billion People, Desertification Leads to Poverty, Drought, Famine, Demographic Pressures” <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/ga11142.doc.htm>
United Nations. “Background Information on Desertification and Land Degradation for World Day to Combat Desertification.” <http://www.un.org/en/events/desertificationday/background.shtml>
Discovery Channel, “STOPPING DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA WITH A ‘GREAT GREEN WALL’.”<http://news.discovery.com/earth/stopping-desertification-in-africa-with-a-great-green-wall.html>
The French, Spanish, and British nations settled and colonized the lands of North Africa. Those European nations thought that they were doing a service to the native peoples and attempted to civilize them. When World War Two passed, those nations decided to hand over the powers to the native people, establishing today the countries of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Although these countries have been long gone from their territory, there have been many lasting effects of this great colonization period, and some of the consequences include the following: lasting influences by those who colonized many years ago and technological advances.
To start, there are many lasting influences by those who settled in Africa. For example, take Algeria. Although French is not the native tongue, it is considered the lingua franca, or the language that is used to communicate Algeria’s ideas to the world [1]. The French were the ones who settled in Algeria in a tremendous colony called French North Africa (now Algeria and Morocco). The French owned a huge portion of western Africa.
Also, another lasting influence is the modernization and the advancement of technology. The most prime example would be Egypt. Although the Suez was not built under British occupation, it was built in 1869 by a French company under head by Ferdinand de Lesseps [2]. Modernization widespread was another aftermath of imperialism in North Africa; the Suez Canal was one of the more iconic spread of technology, modernization, and inevitably, Europeanization. Modernization, although it has not always positively affected the people of Africa, in general, it has bettered the lives of many Africans who may be living in poverty. Some other positive effects of imperialism, however, are the construction of roads, railways, essentially “economizing” them for the future [3].
Although there are many positives in the lasting results of imperialism in North Africa, keep in note that there are also many negative consequences in the legacy of imperialism there. First off, countries like Britain or Belgium, although they worked to better the value of the land, they disregarded the concern of the native peoples, and instead, essentially forced them to work – slave labor [3]. With the fact in light, it is safe to conclude that the British, Belgians, or in fact, any European country with control of a part of Africa were using the lands they had acquired to derive profits. Also, it is safe to note that although the positives were implemented – roads, schools, churches, etc. – the native people did not have access to such commodities, and instead, they were for the interest of the British.
Also, another negative consequence of imperialism that has had an impact on today’s North Africa is the aftermath and the corrupt governments. There was once a cartoon dubbed “The German Cartoon” and it depicted the corruption of the people in this fashion: the man in a machine is drinking heavy alcohol and/or liquor, they’re minds corrupted, money taken away, and religion being washed upon [3]. The newborn African countries, already brainwashed by counts of torture by Europeans, are just getting set free after international pressures to do so. Because of the desperation of people, those who stepped in power just took the money for themselves. The corrupt leaders, Mobutu for example, they tried to erase the past, but over the term, the gain was not for the country – but rather for themselves. Thus, it is safe to conclude that an immediate, even current consequence of imperialism is corruption in the government.
Lasting consequences of the imperialism of North Africa included advances in technology and the corruption of governments. Like most of Africa, North Africa has shared its fair share of unjust treatment of people through imperialism or essentially a European takeover of Africa. Again, although there are many positive comings of imperialism, it is safe to say that the world will more so remember the consequences and the suffering of the African people as the result of imperialism.
Effects of Geography in North Africa
North Africa has always been the place for the most famous desert in the world, the Sahara. The Sahara engulfs North Africa in its entirety in terms of its location and even its size. However, the Sahara has been expanding at an alarming rate, in a process called desertification. Desertification, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the process of becoming desert [1]. Thus, an issue today faced by the North Africans is the issue of desertification; with the lost of productivity and the displacement of people being the consequences.
To begin with, the lands south of the Sahara – and still part of Northern Africa – are being affected due to the effects of desertification. According to the United Nations, the productive land lost each year due to desertification is approximately 12 million hectares, or the area of about South Africa [2]. The lost of productive land means that less food products can be grown, and with the projected population of nine billion by 2050[2], the entire world might be faced with shortages to an extreme.
Many factors can be blamed for the desertification of lands south of the Sahara. For example, one possible cause of African desertification is the over-intensive farming of the land [3]. The population spike in Africa particularly is the probable cause of this. More population means that there are more people to feed, and lands may be overused meaning a reduction and erosion to top-soil. After the top-soil withers away, then the desert rolls in basically. One other reason why desertification might happen in the Sahara is that animals eat grasses and that when they consume too much of the grasses, the topsoil erodes away [3].
Also, another consequence of desertification is the displacement for people. According to the United Nations, by 2020, 50 million people in the world might be displaced due to food shortages and the advancing desert [3]. Many of these people are from Africa, and many of those from Africa tend to be poor. With the ever-rising population of Africans, the vulnerability of those living in the Sahel region is particularly at risk of displacement. Given the circumstances of the potential extent of this disasters, 11 countries banded together to discuss planting a big “Green Wall” to combat desertification [4]. This wall would span 11 countries, the same 11 that are discussing the situation [4]. The objective of the wall is that to lock down topsoil and reduce winds so that less sand can accumulate in the areas at risk.
Given the efforts to combat desertification are positive first steps, but the consequences of desertification remain: displaced people and productive land lost. In order to effectively put a stop to desertification, African nations that have land at risk must band together to discuss solutions to the ever-growing problem. North Africa can fare much better, especially for the people south of the Mediterranean zone (Tunis, Cairo, etc.) if they are able to halt their growing issue – desertification. Lasting Impact of Imperialism in North Africa
Works Cited
CIA – The World Factbook. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html>
University of Houston.“No. 1257. The First Suez Canal.” <http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1257.htm>
Effects of Imperialism. <http://www.aldridgeshs.eq.edu.au/sose/modrespg/imperial/essays/effects.htm>
Definition of Desertification in Merriam-Webster Dictionary. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desertification>
“United Nations. General Assembly High-Level Meeting on 20 September Will Focus on Actions to Reverse Increasing Loss of Productive Lands in World’s Dry Regions Affecting More than 2 Billion People, Desertification Leads to Poverty, Drought, Famine, Demographic Pressures” <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/ga11142.doc.htm>
United Nations. “Background Information on Desertification and Land Degradation for World Day to Combat Desertification.” <http://www.un.org/en/events/desertificationday/background.shtml>
Discovery Channel, “STOPPING DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA WITH A ‘GREAT GREEN WALL’.”<http://news.discovery.com/earth/stopping-desertification-in-africa-with-a-great-green-wall.html>