Berlin Africa Conference

The Berlin Africa Conference of 1884-1885 was a meeting among European powers to discuss how to divide and colonize Africa. They aimed to establish rules to prevent conflict among themselves while claiming parts of Africa for their countries. The conference marked the beginning of rapid European colonization of Africa, often without regard for existing communities and cultures. It set the stage for the "Scramble for Africa," leading to long-lasting political boundaries and inequalities that still influence the continent today. The conference was a significant moment in history, illustrating how European nations negotiated and divided territories through diplomacy rather than local consent.