Scramble for Africa
Definition
The Scramble for Africa was an intense period of territorial acquisitions or annexations in Africa by European powers during the New Imperialism period, between 1881 and 1914.
Analogy
Imagine a group of friends spotting a pile of free candy. They all rush in at once to grab as much as they can, not caring about who gets what. That's similar to the Scramble for Africa - European countries rushed to claim parts of Africa without considering the existing cultures or borders.
Related terms
Berlin Conference: A meeting from 1884-1885 where representatives of European nations agreed on rules for colonizing Africa.
Partition: The action or state of dividing or being divided into parts; in this context, it refers to the division of African land among European powers.
Neo-colonialism: The practice of using capitalism, globalization, and cultural imperialism to influence a developing country instead of direct military control (imperialism) or indirect political control (hegemony).
"Scramble for Africa" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (12)
Which of the following was a significant effect of the Scramble for Africa on the outbreak of World War I?
The "Scramble for Africa" in the late 19th century refers to...
What might be an alternative outcome if African nations had more advanced weaponry at their disposal during Europe’s Scramble for Africa?
What was one of the key justifications given by European powers for their expansion into Africa during the Scramble for Africa?
What was a significant factor in European powers seeking control of territories in Africa during the Scramble for Africa?
How might Africa's development differ today if European powers had not engaged in the Scramble for Africa?
Which territory was not claimed by European powers during the Scramble for Africa?
What if European powers didn't develop machine guns before their Scramble for Africa?
What could be the potential outcome if Ethiopia had not successfully resisted Italian colonization during the Scramble for Africa?
Which African nation successfully resisted European imperial control during the Scramble for Africa?
In what way could Africa’s history possibly be different if they resisted European imperialism during the scramble for Africa?
What did the Scramble for Africa and colonization of India share as a primary motivation?
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