Role of individuals

• Colonial administrators - Bartle Frere

  Frere initially worked in the Indian Civil Service.

  He was appointed as High Commissioner of Cape Colony in 1877. 

  He was removed from his position a year later as he tried to increase control in South Africa which led to war with a local Zulu tribe.
• Colonial administrators - Evelyn Baring

  Baring's first posting was in India, appointed as a private secretary to the Viceroy.

  He was competent, but arrogant, leading to the nickname of ‘Over-Baring’.

  Baring believed in British superiority to all of the Indians and Egyptians over whom he ruled.
• Traders - George Goldie

  Goldie traded palm oil in the Niger (palm oil replaced slaves as the main export in the region).In 1879, he persuaded all British trading firms working on the Niger River to join to form the United African Company. This created a monopoly. After 5 years of resistance, and after buying French trading companies in the Niger, Goldie was granted a charter by Parliament. The Company was renamed the Royal Niger Company.
• Traders - Cecil Rhodes


  Cecil Rhodes was 'the worst type of monopolizing imperialists' according to Kitchen (1996). Rhodes owned all the diamond mines in South Africa and owned the predecessor of the De Beers diamond cartel. In 1889, Rhodes founded the British South Africa Company. He established the colony of Rhodesia (named after himself) and supported the British South Africa Company's expansion against German and Boer interests, securing gold discovered in the Witwatersrand Reef in South Africa, and a strategic position against rivals.
• Female missionaries

  Women's roles in Victorian society were very restrictive and there was a very conservative worldview with defined gender roles. Becoming a missionary allowed some women to escape strict gender roles. Key female missionaries included: Mary Carpenter, who went to India. Mary Slessor, who went to Nigeria.
• What was seen as a part of a Christian's duty at the start of the 19th Century?


  Conversion
• Why did missionaries take matters into their own hands in the 19th Century?


  Because conversion was seen as a part of a Christian's duty
• What was the primary commitment of missionaries in the colonies?


  To spread God's message to the "uncivilised"
• How did missionaries contribute to British imperialism?


  They opened territories to British influence while following the British flag
• What was the relationship between the missionary movement and the Empire?


  The missionary movement was conflated with the Empire
• Who was David Livingstone in relation to the missionary movement?


  He was a missionary who also explored the Zambezi for natural resources
• What dual role did David Livingstone play in the 19th Century?


  He was both a missionary and an explorer for natural resources
• John Hanning Speke - explorer


  Hanning Speke worked alongside and in competition with Burton. The two had many public disputes. Speke and Burton tried to find the source of the River Nile together.
• David Livingstone - Explorer/ missionary


  Livingstone was anti-slavery. He said on slavery "to overdraw its evil is a simple impossibility". He wanted to spread Christianity and commerce in Africa.