Africa: Lesson 6 - Religion

AFrica

Lesson 6: Religion

World Geography

Today is:

Today is: Dec. 16th

Agenda:

Educatingtomorrow's leaders for Christ

• Attendance
• Map Practice

• Trade in Africa
• Religion
• Islam
• Christianity

What do you need for today?

Complete Map Practice during attendance.

1. Chromebook
2. Notebook
3. Something to write with

Standards

Objective

Essential Questions

Map Practice

Want to test yourself on all of the African countries at once? (50 + 5 Islands)

Political Maps of Africa

7 Countries

Northern Africa

Physical Features of Africa

Physical Maps to Study

26 Physical Features

15 Countries

Eastern Africa

Central Africa

8 Countries

Need more practice?

African Countires North of the Equator

Western Africa

15 Countries

African Countires South of the equator

5 Countries

Southern Africa

What was the motivations for European nations colonizing Africa?

Economic exploitation: European powers sought access to Africa's abundant natural resources, including minerals, timber, and agricultural products, to fuel their industrial economies. Strategic interests: Control over African territories provided European nations with strategic advantages, such as access to trade routes, ports, and geopolitical dominance. Ideological factors: European colonialism was also driven by ideological beliefs, including racial superiority and the conviction of a "civilizing mission" to bring European civilization to supposedly "backward" peoples.

Religion

Goals of missionary work in Africa:

Conversion to Christianity: Missionaries saw the conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity as their primary goal. Establishment of churches, schools, and hospitals: Missionaries established churches to provide a physical space for worship and community gatherings. They also built schools to educate local populations, teaching literacy, numeracy, and the Christian faith. Additionally, missionaries established hospitals and clinics to provide medical care and alleviate suffering. Promotion of European values and lifestyles: Missionaries often sought to promote European cultural norms and lifestyles among African communities. They viewed Western civilization as morally superior and sought to instill European values.

Christianity

Motivations Behind Missionary Work

Religious motivations: Many missionaries were driven by sincere religious beliefs and a conviction that Christianity was the only true faith. They saw it as their duty to spread the gospel and save souls, particularly among "heathen" peoples who were perceived as living in spiritual darkness. This evangelical zeal led missionaries to undertake long and hard journeys, endure hardship, and sometimes risk their lives to bring the message of Christianity to remote corners of the world. Civilizing mission: Missionary work was often intertwined with the broader ideology of the "civilizing mission," which posited that Europeans had a moral obligation to uplift and civilize supposedly "backward" societies. This ideology justified colonial expansion and the imposition of European cultural norms and institutions on indigenous peoples. Missionaries saw themselves as agents of progress and enlightenment, bringing the benefits of Western civilization to the "uncivilized" world.

Christianity

Religious Justifications for Colonization

"White Man's Burden": The "White Man's Burden" was a poem written by the British poet Rudyard Kipling in 1899, which captured the prevailing attitude of European colonialism at the time. The poem depicted the colonization of non-European peoples as a burden that white Europeans were duty-bound to shoulder. It portrayed colonialism as a noble endeavor aimed at uplifting and civilizing supposedly "lesser" races, despite the immense human and material costs involved. Christianization of Africa: Many European colonizers justified their conquest of Africa by framing it as a mission to spread Christianity. They believed that converting Africans to Christianity would not only save their souls but also improve their moral and spiritual standards, making them more "civilized" and "enlightened" according to European standards. This belief was rooted in the idea of salvation, which held that only through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior could individuals attain eternal life.

Christianity

Religious Justifications for Colonization

Manifest Destiny: Manifest Destiny was an ideology prevalent among European colonizers that justified their expansion into new territories as a divinely ordained mission. It held that Europeans, as God's chosen people, were destined to conquer and rule over non-Christian lands and peoples. This belief provided religious justification for colonial conquests and the subjugation of indigenous populations. It also helped to justify the displacement and dispossession of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands in the name of progress and civilization.

Christianity

What was the motivations for European nations colonizing Africa?

Cultural disruption: Missionary activities often led to the erosion of indigenous cultures and traditions as European religious beliefs and practices were imposed on African societies. This cultural disruption had far-reaching consequences, including the loss of traditional knowledge, languages, and social structures. Many indigenous cultural practices were suppressed or prohibited by missionaries, who viewed them as pagan or idolatrous. As a result, indigenous peoples often faced pressure to abandon their ancestral traditions and adopt Western ways of life.

Christianity

What was the motivations for European nations colonizing Africa?

Social Upheaval: Conversion to Christianity sometimes resulted in social tensions and conflicts within African communities, as traditional beliefs clashed with the teachings of missionaries. This could lead to divisions within families and communities, contributing to social instability. Additionally, the introduction of Western concepts such as individualism, capitalism, and patriarchy often disrupted traditional social hierarchies and power dynamics, leading to social upheaval and unrest. Economic exploitation: While missionaries often portrayed their activities as good and helpful, they were sometimes complicit in the economic exploitation of African societies by colonial powers. Missionary-run institutions, such as schools and hospitals, often served the interests of colonial administrators by promoting European values and facilitating the extraction of labor and resources from African communities. Additionally, missionaries sometimes acted as intermediaries between colonial authorities and indigenous peoples, helping to enforce colonial laws and regulations and suppress indigenous resistance movements.

Christianity

Examples of Christian Influence in Africa:

Portuguese colonization of Angola and Mozambique: The Portuguese were among the first European powers to establish colonies in Africa, particularly in Angola and Mozambique. Portuguese missionaries accompanied explorers and settlers, seeking to convert indigenous Africans to Catholicism. The Catholic Church played a significant role in the colonization of Angola and Mozambique, establishing missions, schools, and churches throughout the territories. British colonization of Nigeria: Nigeria was colonized by the British in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. British missionaries, primarily from Protestant denominations such as the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the Wesleyan Missionary Society, were active in Nigeria, seeking to spread Christianity and promote British values and culture. Missionary activities in Nigeria focused on education, healthcare, and social welfare, as well as religious conversion. French colonization of Algeria: Algeria was colonized by France in the 19th century, leading to the displacement and marginalization of indigenous Berber and Arab populations. French missionaries, primarily from Catholic orders such as the White Fathers and the Little Sisters of the Poor, were involved in the colonization of Algeria, seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity. Missionary activities in Algeria often encountered resistance from the local population, resulting in tensions and conflicts between Muslims and Christians.

Islam

Christianity

Motivations Behind Missionary Work

Religious motivations: Islamic missionaries were driven by a desire to spread the message of Islam and bring salvation to non-Muslims. They believed that Islam offered spiritual guidance and moral principles that could improve the lives of Africans. Cultural exchange: Islamic missionaries often engaged in cultural exchanges with African societies, incorporating local customs and traditions into Islamic practices and vice versa. This facilitated the integration of Islam into African societies and contributed to the development of unique African Islamic cultures. Economic interests: Islamic missionaries sometimes accompanied traders on commercial expeditions into Africa, using trade as a means to spread Islam. Trade networks provided opportunities for cultural exchange and religious conversion, as well as economic benefits for both Muslim traders and African communities.

Islam

Religious Justifications for Colonization

Spread of Islamic civilization: Like European colonizers, Islamic rulers and scholars justified their expansion into Africa as a mission to spread their religion and civilization. They viewed Islam as a guiding light that would bring enlightenment and progress to the "uncivilized" peoples of Africa. Protection of Muslim Communities: Islamic rulers often justified their military conquests in Africa as a means to protect Muslim communities from persecution and oppression. They portrayed their wars as defensive actions aimed at safeguarding the rights of Muslims and spreading the rule of Islam. Conversion through Persuasion: Unlike European colonizers, Islamic rulers often sought to convert Africans to Islam through persuasion rather than some Christian missionaries who converted through coercion. They employed missionaries, scholars, and Sufi mystics to preach the message of Islam and attract followers through peaceful means.

Islam

What was the motivations for European nations colonizing Africa?

Cultural disruption: Missionary activities often led to the erosion of indigenous cultures and traditions as European religious beliefs and practices were imposed on African societies. This cultural disruption had far-reaching consequences, including the loss of traditional knowledge, languages, and social structures. Many indigenous cultural practices were suppressed or prohibited by missionaries, who viewed them as pagan or idolatrous. As a result, indigenous peoples often faced pressure to abandon their ancestral traditions and adopt Western ways of life.

Islam

Examples of Islamic influence in Africa:

Spread of Islam in West Africa: Islamic traders and scholars played a key role in spreading Islam across West Africa through trade networks and cultural exchanges. The rise of Islamic empires such as the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Empires facilitated the spread of Islam and the integration of Islamic principles into West African societies. Swahili Coast: The Swahili Coast, along the eastern coast of Africa, became a center of Islamic civilization and trade. Arab and Persian traders established trading settlements along the coast, bringing Islam to the region and facilitating cultural exchange between Africa and the Middle East. Spread of Islam in East Africa: Islamic missionaries, particularly Sufi mystics, played a significant role in spreading Islam in East Africa. The spread of Islam in East Africa was facilitated by trade networks, migration, and intermarriage between Arab traders and local African populations.

Islam

Islam

Economic and political interests: While missionaries often acted out of genuine religious zeal, their activities also served the economic and political interests of colonial powers. Missionary work could help pave the way for colonial expansion by establishing a presence in remote regions and gaining the trust of local populations. Additionally, missionaries sometimes collaborated with colonial authorities to advance their shared interests, such as the exploitation of natural resources or the suppression of indigenous resistance movements.