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The scramble for Africa marked the dark epoch of the African continent. This era was characterized by European nations scrambling for different parts of Africa and for different reasons. The Europeans wanted to not only to expand their empires, but they also wanted to protect their trade zones in Africa while fully exploiting African resources. Political rivalry between the European countries played an integral role in the process of diving Africa. The scramble for Africa climaxed at the Berlin Conference 1884-5, where European nations (France, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and individuals such as King Leopold of Belgium) met and divided Africa into various spheres of influence / colonies. All of Africa, except for Ethiopia and Liberia, was claimed. And borders formed to distinguish the different territories.
General division of Africa
The colonial powers faced resistance as they established themselves in their African territories. The British and the French faced African resistance in West Africa while the Germans suffered the same in German Southwest Africa. The European countries had an advantage over the local Africans as they had superior machinery and weaponry. In South Africa, the Boer and the British fought each other for South African land (South African War 1899 – 1902). They also fought the local South Africans for land.
The partition of Africa changed Africa profoundly. Politically, Africa lost its independence and the colonial powers had complete control of their colonized territories. Economically, as a supplier of raw materials, Africa was included into the global economy, but on unfair terms. Geographically, borders were placed on African land dividing African peoples and communities. Blood was shed; lives were lost as a result of wars of conquest and resistance between the Africans and their respective European colonial powers. This inevitably contributed to a sense of both cultural and social disorientation.
The Europeans felt superior, and promoted racist ideologies. Living under colonialism was difficult for Africans. Some colonial powers collaborated with their African subjects while other powers were extremely selfish and greedy, such as King Leopold II of Belgium and his rule over the Congo Free State. The colonial powers governed the African peoples as they established themselves in their respective African territories. Their rule had both positive and negative impact. They opened companies and schools and built cities but created a social order that made the African peoples their subjects. Living under colonialism varied according to the relationship between the people and the colonial masters.
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