Berlin Conference
Colonial carve-up meeting
The Berlin Conference was an 1884–85 meeting of European powers that established rules for colonial claims in Africa.
The conference formalized the "Scramble for Africa," allowing European nations to partition the continent with little regard for existing African peoples or boundaries.
Its arbitrary borders, drawn to serve colonial interests, created lasting political problems that persist today.
Rapid European colonization period
- European powersDominant states of Europe
- free trade zoneRegion without import duties
- Niger RiverWest African watercourse
- Congo RiverMajor Central African waterway
Areas of dominant authority
- territorial claimsAssertions of regional sovereignty
- bordersLines separating regions
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- carve-upPrearranged division of spoils
boundaries · allocation · apportionment · map drawing · colonial boundaries · protectorates · annexation · fragmentation
Selfish use of others
- dominationSupreme authority held
- subjugationForcing into submission
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- civilizing missionClaimed duty to "improve" peoples
colonial administration · resource extraction · forced labor · land seizure · colonial rule · ivory trade · mineral rights · plantation system
Binding pact between nations
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- international lawRules governing relations between countries
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
multilateral · statesmanship · ambassadors · Great Powers · balance of power · realpolitik · recognition · legitimacy
Violence between cultural groups
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- neocolonialismIndirect foreign domination
- Pan-AfricanismContinental and diaspora solidarity ideology
- border disputesConflicts over boundaries
national identity · independence movements · underdevelopment · resource curse · tribal conflicts
Scramble for Africa
Rapid European colonization period
- European powersDominant states of Europe
- free trade zoneRegion without import duties
- Niger RiverWest African watercourse
spheres of influence
Areas of dominant authority
- territorial claimsAssertions of regional sovereignty
- bordersLines separating regions
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
carve-up · boundaries · allocation · apportionment · map drawing · colonial boundaries · protectorates · annexation · fragmentation
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- dominationSupreme authority held
- subjugationForcing into submission
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
civilizing mission · colonial administration · resource extraction · forced labor · land seizure · colonial rule · ivory trade · mineral rights · plantation system
treaty
Binding pact between nations
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- international lawRules governing relations between countries
convention · multilateral · statesmanship · ambassadors · Great Powers · balance of power · realpolitik · recognition · legitimacy · consensus
ethnic conflicts
Violence between cultural groups
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- neocolonialismIndirect foreign domination
- Pan-AfricanismContinental and diaspora solidarity ideology
border disputes · national identity · independence movements · underdevelopment · resource curse · tribal conflicts
- PortugalLisbon, Porto, Algarve, Oporto, Madeira
- African historyNubia, Dahomey, Oyo Empire, Scramble for Africa, scramble for Africa
- colonialismcolony, colonization, colonial rule, colonial powers, colonizer
- 19th Century Diplomacyambassador, ambassadors, envoy, envoys, Congress of Vienna
- 19th Century TreatiesTreaty of Ghent, Treaty of Frankfurt, Treaty of Nanking, Treaty of Shimonoseki, Congress of Vienna
- Kenya historyindependence struggle, British colonialism, colonial rule, 1963, December 12
Berlin ConferenceAfrican independence
Sovereignty from colonial powers
decolonization · national liberation · liberation movements · wind of change
Berlin ConferenceAfrican Union
Continental intergovernmental organization
Pan-Africanism · Bandung Conference · self-determination · regional cooperation
conference, Berlin, conferences, conferencing, conferenced, teleconference, videoconference, Berliner, nonconference