Page 175 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

1952 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

warfare was especially significant. dalwana in 1879. Only the
Even after opposition to the At- Ethiopians, under Emperor Mene-
lantic slave trade grew in Europe, in lik (1844–1913), were fully suc-
other regions warfare in the search cessful, turning away Italian
for slaves continued well into the invaders at the Battle of Adwa in
nineteenth century to satisfy the 1896.
demand for slaves in Arabia and on The second new military experi-
European-settled islands in the ence tied to colonial expansion was
Indian Ocean. the effort to turn Africans—and
The latter effects of warfare A stockade around a village especially those from what Euro-
inspired by the demand for slaves in Africa in the 1800s built pean colonialists presumed to be
was responsible for one of the great to protect the residents from “martial races”—into soldiers of
ironies of colonialism, the call for human and other animal colonialism, transforming them
European intervention on the predators. into the very troops needed to first
African continent to end persistent create and then enforce colonial
African warfare.This was the basis domination in many areas of the
of appeals made by the missionary David Livingston continent. Among the earliest of these colonial military
(1813–1873) for British involvement to bring the bene- units was the British King’s African Rifles (KAR), soldiers
fits of Christianity, civilization, and legitimate (as recruited from east and central Africa. KAR (and other
opposed to slave) commerce in eastern and southern similar) units not only preserved the colonial peace
Africa.These calls were made at a crucial time, when both within their own territories, but often were sent to other
literacy and the availability of low-cost popular publica- parts of the continent to enforce colonial rule.This prac-
tions were shaping the awareness of many Europeans tice of co-opting colonial Africans as the military agents
about the African continent.These ideas first set in place of colonial warfare represents a historical turning point
notions of widespread African warfare, which were exac- in the impact of warfare for Africans.
erbated by later developments in colonial policies regard-
ing Africa. Africans and
the World Wars
Colonial Warfare In many ways, the culmination of this transformation
in Africa came as colonial powers sought to utilize colonial troops
Chief among the results of calls for ending African war- in their own defense when facing the daunting military
fare were military expeditions to “pacify” African peoples challenges of the twentieth century. The European war-
and bring them under the “benevolent” control of Euro- fare that began in August 1914 was in many ways
pean powers. In two divergent ways, these efforts also brought on by colonial rivalries and soon spilled over
involved Africans in new experiences of warfare. One, of into those colonies themselves, especially in Africa.
course, was a reorientation of African military efforts to Minor campaigns brought modern warfare to several
oppose the expansion of European interests on the con- areas of the continent for the first time, and the East
tinent. For the most part, Africans were ill-equipped to African Campaign actually continued until several days
counter the increasingly technological forms of warfare beyond the armistice in Europe. Perhaps 2 million
they confronted. Few African armies were able to suc- Africans were drawn into military service during that war
cessfully repulse European incursions, although some as both soldiers and military laborers. France also relied
had occasional successes, as did the Zulu impis (regi- upon African troops for the defense of its home front,
ments) in defeating British troops at the Battle of Isan- and Britain sent thousands of South Africans to Europe