Western Civilization II / Unit 13 WC2 1226 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Reading a Map of Africa in 1914
The idea
A map of Africa in nineteen fourteen asks two questions: who held what, and who held nothing. Britain's holdings run north to south with a gap: Egypt and the Sudan, then British East Africa, then the Rhodesias and South Africa, the Cape-to-Cairo line Rhodes wanted, broken by German East Africa. France holds the northwest in one block, Algeria to the Sahara to Senegal, plus Madagascar. Germany has four pieces: Togo, Cameroon, Southwest Africa and East Africa. Belgium's Congo sits in the center, larger than Western Europe. Portugal keeps Angola and Mozambique on opposite coasts, Italy Libya and Eritrea. Two states are shaded differently. Ethiopia is independent because of Adwa. Liberia is independent as the American settlers' republic. If a map shows Ethiopia colored Italian, it is nineteen thirty-six, not nineteen fourteen. If Germany's four pieces are missing, it is after nineteen nineteen. Practice by naming the power for each coast before reading the key.
In practice
Two independent states; Germany's four pieces date the map.
Where people slip
The map is the witness's standard; the anchor gives percentages, not shapes.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
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