What was the 'Scramble for Africa' and who were the key players?

The 'Scramble for Africa' was a period of rapid colonial expansion in Africa by European powers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The 'Scramble for Africa', also known as the 'Race for Africa' or 'Partition of Africa', took place between 1881 and 1914. This period was characterised by the rapid invasion, occupation, division, and colonisation of African territory by European powers. The key players in this scramble were Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

The scramble began in earnest with the 1884 Berlin Conference, where the European powers met to discuss the partition of Africa. The conference was convened by Portugal but led by Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, and Jules Ferry, the Prime Minister of France. The conference aimed to regulate the competition between the powers by defining 'effective occupation' as the criterion for international recognition of territorial claims, a principle which encouraged the scramble.

Britain and France were the most successful in the scramble. Britain's colonies stretched from Egypt to South Africa, forming a continuous territory known as 'Cape to Cairo'. France, on the other hand, controlled vast territories in West and Central Africa. Germany, a latecomer, established colonies in present-day Tanzania, Namibia, Cameroon, and Togo. Belgium, under King Leopold II, controlled the Congo Free State, while Italy had colonies in the Horn of Africa and Libya. Spain and Portugal, the earliest colonisers, had the least territories, with Spain controlling small enclaves and Portugal controlling Angola and Mozambique.

The scramble was driven by various factors. Economic interests, such as the desire for new markets and raw materials, were paramount. The Industrial Revolution had created a demand for raw materials not found in Europe, and Africa was seen as a source of these materials and a market for European goods. Strategic considerations, such as the desire to secure sea routes and prevent rivals from gaining advantage, also played a role. Additionally, there was a belief in the 'civilising mission', the idea that it was the duty of Europeans to bring 'civilisation' to 'backward' peoples.

The scramble had profound effects on Africa. It led to the imposition of European political and economic systems, the exploitation of African resources, and the alteration of African societies and cultures. It also set the stage for the struggles for independence that would follow in the 20th