“The discovery of diamonds in Griqualand West [South Africa] has led to a sudden rush of thousands of seekers. The demand for heavy machinery and labor to extract these gems from the deep pits of the Kimberley mine has transformed this region into a major center of colonial enterprise, exporting vast wealth to European markets.”
—Adapted from a British colonial report, 1874
The expansion of diamond mining described in the passage is best understood in the context of which of the following nineteenth-century developments?
- The rise of colonial export economies that specialized in the extraction of raw materials for global trade.Answer
- BThe reestablishment of mercantilist policies that prohibited private investment in resource extraction.
- CThe replacement of direct colonial rule by informal economic spheres of influence across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- DThe use of Social Darwinist theories by colonial administrators to advocate for the redistribution of land to native miners.
Answer
The rise of colonial export economies that specialized in the extraction of raw materials for global trade.
The correct answer is the option focusing on the rise of colonial export economies. During the nineteenth century, the industrialization of Western nations fueled a massive demand for raw materials and luxury goods. This led to the development of export economies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America that concentrated on extracting natural resources (like diamonds, rubber, copper, and cotton) for export to global markets rather than developing domestic industrial sectors.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Global Economic Developments and Resource Extraction