Before achieving independence as Zimbabwe in 1980, this African territory was known as Southern Rhodesia. Before independence, Southern Rhodesia was a colony of which European power?

Introduction / Context:
Many modern African countries were once colonies of European powers. Understanding which European country controlled which territory helps students make sense of patterns of language, culture, and political history across the continent. Zimbabwe, formerly known as Southern Rhodesia, is one such country. This question asks you to identify the European colonial power that ruled Southern Rhodesia before Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The region is modern Zimbabwe, previously called Southern Rhodesia.
• The time frame is before independence in 1980.
• Four European colonial powers are listed as options.
• We assume standard facts from African colonial history.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this, you should recall the basic map of colonial influence in Africa. Britain controlled many territories in eastern and southern Africa, such as Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Belgium controlled the Congo. Portugal controlled Angola and Mozambique. France ruled large parts of West and North Africa. Southern Rhodesia took its name from Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialist, and was under British rule. Therefore, among the options given, the correct colonial power is the United Kingdom or Britain.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Connect the name Southern Rhodesia with Cecil Rhodes, a well known British imperialist and businessman.Step 2: Recall that Rhodesia was a British territory in southern Africa, and that it later split into present day Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) and Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia).Step 3: Recognize that Belgium's main African colony was the Congo, not Southern Rhodesia.Step 4: Note that Portugal ruled Angola and Mozambique, and France ruled many territories in West and North Africa.Step 5: Conclude that Southern Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe, was a colony of the United Kingdom (Britain).

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling that English is a major official language in Zimbabwe and that the country was part of the British Commonwealth after independence. Historical accounts of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, led by movements such as ZANU and ZAPU, describe the conflict as an anti colonial struggle against white minority rule backed by Britain. These details all confirm that Britain was the colonial power in question, not Belgium, Portugal, or France.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Belgium mainly controlled the Congo region in central Africa, not Southern Rhodesia.
Portugal governed colonies like Angola and Mozambique on the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts, not Zimbabwe.
France had important colonies in West Africa and North Africa, such as Senegal and Algeria, but not Southern Rhodesia.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up colonial powers in Africa because there were several European countries involved and many territories changed names after independence. A useful strategy is to remember a few anchor examples: British influence in eastern and southern Africa, French influence in large parts of West Africa, Belgian control only in Congo, and Portuguese control in Angola and Mozambique. Once you remember that Zimbabwe was part of the British region along with Zambia and South Africa, this and similar questions become much easier.

Final Answer:
Before independence, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was a colony of the United Kingdom (Britain).