Imperialism, Colonialism and Cartography

The centenary of the Berlin conference of 1884-85 was an opportunity for historians to reiterate the view that the conference was not convened to partition Africa. It follows from the imperial function of the conference that subsequent colonialism was a short-lived aberration in four centuries of a continuing imperial relationship between Europe and Africa. The established attributes which differentiate imperialism from colonialism provide a framework for understanding the cartographic evolution of Africa. The long-standing view of an eighteenth century cartographic reformation of Africa is challenged. Pre-colonial cartography of Africa is, instead, characterized by methodological continuity, which is still evident in the cartography of the nineteenth century European explorers, whereas the major discontinuity coincides with the beginnings of colonial rule. The cartographic requirements for the implementation of colonial rule on the ground are different from those which foster a more remote imperial relationship. The attributes of imperial cartography are now reasserting themselves in the post-colonial period.