Munson, Robert B. (2005) The Landscape of German Colonialism: Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, Ca. 1890 – 1916. PhD thesis, Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
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Abstract
The landscape changes in northern Tanzania over the twentieth century find their roots in the German colonial period (ca. 1890-1916). The dissertation argues that the introduction of new plants and a new German order changed the landscape during the German rule, but changes within the African population led to an acceptance and use of these German imports and the continuation once the Germans were forced out. This work draws on a wealth of colonial-era documents in Germany and Tanzania: governmental, scientific as well as mission sources. Complementing the written sources, photographic and cartographic evidence reveals undocumented detail. Finally, field research consisting of “reading the landscape” and talking with Chagga,Meru and Arusha people provides the vital African perspective of the landscape change processes and the use of plant species. Three main strands of development characterized the German period. The colonial military and subsequent civilian administration began the European reordering of the Mt. Kilimanjaro / Mt Meru area. The significant influences came from the importation of German science and forestry – to research, reserve and reconstruct the area – as well as urban planning to build the new cities of Moshi and Arusha. Parallel, two Christian missions came to the area to spread Christianity but the accompanying “botanical proselytization” promoted new plants and landscape use. Finally, businesses and settlers spread the changes across the region through occupation of large areas of land with European agriculture. The local African people, the Chagga of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru’s Arusha and Meru, played a large role in the landscape change and its sustainment. Their response, a mixture of active acceptance, total rejection and thoughtful adaptation, brought the landscape changes to the level of the local people and helped to create the new European / African landscape. Due to the peoples’ participation in this creation, the landscape continued to develop along the same lines after World War I evicted the Germans. Seven plants illustrate the colonial botanical changes: the white potato, two trees (Mexican cypress and grevillea), and the four industrial crops of cotton, sisal, ceara rubber and finally coffee, the signature crop of the region. The Germans first imported these into the region but the African response determined the future of these species in the landscape and helped change the biogeography of northern Tanzania.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Northern Tanzania: The Land, the People and Their History, Colonial Government: gute deutsche Ordnung!, Christian Missions: Botanical Proselytization, Businesses and Settlers: A Landscape of Riches!, Seven Views of the Living Historic Landscape, |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BD Speculative Philosophy D History General and Old World > DT Africa |
| Divisions: | Africana Comparative |
| Depositing User: | JHI Africa |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Apr 2014 13:48 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Mar 2018 08:28 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/67 |
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