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Why was Africa colonised in the years 1870-1914
that vast (perhaps a more telling consequence of the demand for diamonds and gold was the South African War of 1899-1902.). The demand for vegetable oil in Africa played a role in the development of the soap industry.
The colonisation of African land seemed to be made easier through the presence of technologies such as steamships and railways. The accessible of quinine also decreased the death of European in African tropics. It has been argued that the machine may not have evolved as quick as it did if it had not been used in such expeditions.
In 1830 Christian missionaries had barely touched the shores of Africa; but the next forty years saw a complete penetration into the African subcontinent. The influence of the missions in order to gain territory in Africa is unknown, as there was no real quest from missionary headquarters in Europe to gain secular empires. However rivalry between Catholic and Protestant missionaries could easily develop; for example, into rivalry between the French and the British governments.
Conclusion
It is difficult to attribute the colonisation of Africa to one particular reason. The four countries that held the majority of African land have been discussed however there were others such as Belgium (Congo) and Portugal (Mozambique). Each country had its own means and reasons for colonisation which was added by the attitude developed by the people of that country (such as Britain) or hindered such as Italy (after the defeat to Ethiopia) and France (after defeat to the British at Fashoda). There were other benefits to the European natures that colonised Africa such her contribution to European painting (initiated by Pablo Picasso around 1907) and to a certain degree the science of Anthropology was developed at a rapid pace. However in weighing up the benefits of colonialism, one must question the effect, as its legacy is apparent in the problems of Africa today (Zimbabwe).