In the late 1800s, Britain, France, Germany, and other European authorities swept into Africa. Within two decades of the invasion, they had carved up the region and ruled millions of Africans. Africa’s topography developed unique and varied cultures. To prolong the nations’ industrialization, Europeans required additional natural resources. They likewise wanted to sell more factory-made merchandise. According to Wiesner et al. (2017), one of the resolutions involved taking over weaker states and coerce trade. This is identified as imperialism. Europeans owned advanced technologies and military power that allowed them to gain control of areas in Africa. Similarly, nationalism encouraged European countries to construct empires. Lastly, imperialism spread European cultural principles regarding religious conviction, politics, and language.
European nations competed with each other through imperialism. Northern regions had experienced periods of contact with Europe while inner zones, for instance, the Sahara Desert and central rain forest region, continued being inaccessible. The slave-trading activities had impacted western Africa, and South Africa was influenced by Dutch and British invasions (Zilfi, 2010). They developed learning institutions, medical amenities, and houses of worship and talked about the vices of the slave trade. Even though they may have had virtuous intents, missionaries occasionally tainted other beliefs and faiths.
In 1884, Europeans gathered in Berlin to distinguish Leopold’s assertions to Congo. However, the Europeans made a declaration that a European authority could not claim any region in Africa except if they had instituted an administrative office. This conference was identified as the Berlin Conference. No African was invited to the forum, and an urgency to take possession of Africa followed. The dissection of the African region amongst European powers is identified as the partitioning of Africa. Africa’s map was re-drawn with little worry for people or cultures that resided there. Ultimately, splitting the African continent resulted in Europeans conflicting with each other.
