You have learned about the grab for land in the areas of Africa and Asia during the Age of Imperialism. Look at the map below and notice that much of the colonial holdings are those controlled by Great Britain. In fact, it has been said, "The sun never sets on the English empire," because they controlled land across the entire globe.

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Cecil Rhodes was a leading figure in the establishment of British control over the area of South Africa and the great diamond mines. He founded the DeBeers Diamond Company and named his colony Rhodesia after himself. It is now the country of Zimbabwe. It was his dream to connect the colonies from the capital city of Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt with a railroad and his hope that England would control the entire continent.

Look at the cartoon below entitled "The Rhodes Colossus." It was created by Edward Sambourne and published in Punch magazine in 1892. What do you think it means? Here is Cecil Rhodes, standing almost as a giant across an entire continent. Remember that other countries were trying to gain colonies across Africa. Might this indicate that he is overstepping? Might it suggest that England is very powerful? You decide!

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