"King Leopold's Ghost" and Historical Merit

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the book, "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa". It explains how it is an account of what befell the nation now known as Congo during the years of Belgian colonial rule in the early years of the 20th century.

From the Paper:

"At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was becoming a commonly accepted belief among the European powers that colonial possessions enhanced the prestige of the nations that held them. King Leopold II, wishing to elevate Belgium to a higher status in the European community of nations, had his eyes upon Africa. Of course, there were also more practical reasons to play the imperial game, namely to build personal wealth and to accumulate personal power. With the major colonial states more interested in the coastal African states, Leopold managed to colonize the Congo, using public statements about his humanitarian concerns for the slave trade in the Congo and the drive to spread Christianity in the area to disguise his real intentions."

More papers on "King Leopold's Ghost" and Historical Merit:

• Analytical Essay # 64865 : "King Leopold's Ghost"
• Analytical Essay # 123366 : "King Leopold's Rule of the Congo"
• Essay # 5072 : "King Leopold"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: