East Africa: British and European attempts at colonization, and the impact the steamship had on trading in Nyasaland from Lake Nyasa to the Indian Ocean, 1800-1900

The primary intent of this research is to analyze and document the progression of European influence and domination in modern-day Malawi, and to explore the incident at Lake Nyasa. East Africa during the nineteenth century was a period of rapid growth, rising violence, and political unrest. The goal of this research is to understand the political, religious, and social climate that led to the suppression of the slave trade by Harry Johnston and Cecil Maguire. Most prior research focuses on West Africa or the perils of the slave trade. This research will show the movement east into Central and East Africa, and why Nyasaland was one of the most critical political territories in East Africa. Historians have done extensive research on the explorers who traversed Africa, the European slave trade, and African trade, but there has not been much research that ties everything together to show how interconnected Europe and Africa really were during the nineteenth century. The final topic in this research, Captain Cecil Maguire and the incident on Lake Nyasa does not seem to be researched at all. This lack of attention allows for an abundance of future research on the topic. This research draws mostly from primary source material, including Parliamentary Papers, memoirs, published letters, and travel journals written by David Livingstone, H.M. Stanley, Mackinnon, Lugard, and Harry Johnston. The British Parliamentary Papers were the most consulted resource for this research. Letters and correspondence helped to complete the narrative. The scholarship on this research has the potential of creating new and exciting areas of interest for nineteenth-century East Africa. Many cultures converged on the continent and left their imprint on African culture, religion, politics, and lifestyle. African history must be preserved so that future generations can see how Europe changed global perceptions of Africa during the nineteenth century and how those who meant to exploit the people resources, and land, were quickly met with the resistance of others, like Cecil Maguire, who passionately pursued those who would oppress