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             Africa was seen by European powers such as France and Britain as a ready supply of slaves from which the demand for this newfound 'commodity' could be met. For many slave traders, it was a profitable business. However, we must consider why it was that Britian and France came to dominate West Africa in this way. The domination of France over many of the world's cultures in this period is not as surprising. It was a large country with a large population, however, Britain had only half the number of people as France, and was also seen by many as at a military disadvantage to France. The reasons for success and purpose behind British Imperialism are still seen as a multifaceted and complex issue, even in the days when this colonial conquest was continuing.
             During the nineteenth century, Sir John Seeley stated the opinion that "conquered and peopled half the world" in what Seeley saw as a "fit of absence of mind" ( Seeley 8). Ther3fore critics saw imperialism even at this stage as a madness brought about with no logical explanation. Seeley's argument was that the spread of colonialism was not a planned strategy, but one which had emerged over a period of time (Seeley PG). His opinion further went on to state that the conquering of these many lands was not undertaken with power in mind, that the emergence of Britain as one of the most powerful imperial nations, was a happening that many of the citizens of Britain and the Empire were almost diffident to. In this, we can see that it was true that Britain did not want to lose the power it had attained. Although the reason for its' gaining was not one of increasing influence, the benefits which that influence would provide. These benefits were seen mostly by the way of trade, or rather supply of goods, as the 'trade' which occurred was hardly achieved on a fair basis but resembled more of the conquering nation pillaging its defeated foe.
             If the diffidence shown by the people of the na...