Colonialism and Imperialism in Africa Essay - 1158 Words

Disease and Imperialism in Africa Diseases were prevalent in Africa during the time of European Imperialism. Disease affected both natives and European peoples in Africa. African diseases affected both natives and European explorers and soldiers as well as diseases brought by the Europeans that affected the Africans. Numerouks diseases impadcted the Europeans in Africa during the time of Imperialism. During the time of Imperialism many explorers and soldiers died of disease. During 1804-25 over 60 per cent of the men sent out by the Church Missionary Society died of disease (McLynn 228). Traveling to Africa was very dangerous. Before the 19th century, European soldiers in the tropical areas [in Africa] died†¦show more content†¦Although malaria was a major problem among Europeans, it was uncommon among Africans because they had developed an immunity to malaria (McLynn 228). In the 1850s, the primary breakthrough in the fight against malaria came with quinine (McLynn 232). The introduction of prophylactic quinine for malaria, [sic] suddenly reduced mortality by one-half (Smaldone). European medicine was brought over to help the explorers. Colonial medicine existed primarily to make the tropics fit for the white man to inhabit (Manderson 102). The hospitals were built in European settleme nts which were generally far away from the natives homes and to benefit the Europeans only (Manderson 103). The improvement of tropical medicine accelerated imperialism because the military and explorers were not being stopped by disease (Smaldone). Disease, native to Africa as well as those brought by Europeans, also took a large toll on the native peoples of Africa. Native diseases included malaria, sleeping sickness (trypunosomiasis), bilharzia, filariasis, hookworm infestation (ahkylostomiasis) and river blindness (onchocerciasis) (McLynn 227). It was sleeping sickness or tryanosomiasis that cause the greatest ravages among Africas indigenous population (McLynn 238). Sleeping sickness was highly contagious once contracted, was initiated by the parasitic trypanosomes conveyed in the bite of the tsetse fly (McLynn 239). InitialShow MoreRelated French and British Colonialism and Imperialism in Africa Essays1479 Words   |  6 PagesFrench and British Colonialism and Imperialism in Africa Africa is home to countless cultures that all have their own unique ideas and customs. During the past couple of centuries, these cultures were threatened to the point where they almost ceased to exist. The Berlin Conference was a very important occurrence in Africa and Europes history. 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