The Scramble for Africa was the rapid invasion, conquest, and colonization of most of the African continent by seven Western European powers-Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, and Spain-during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven largely by the Second Industrial Revolution and the era of New Imperialism
. This period began in the 1880s when European countries moved beyond coastal settlements to claim vast territories inland, motivated by economic interests, technological advances, and international rivalries. King Leopold II of Belgium played a key role by securing control of the Congo region under the guise of trade, which intensified competition among European powers
. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 formalized the rules for colonization, dividing Africa among European nations without African representation or consent
. By 1914, nearly the entire continent was under European control except for Liberia and Ethiopia, which remained independent. The Scramble led to significant loss of African lives, exploitation, and the disruption of traditional societies. European powers drew arbitrary borders, disregarding ethnic and cultural divisions, which caused long-term challenges for African nations
. In summary, the Scramble for Africa was a period of aggressive European imperial expansion that transformed Africa politically, economically, and socially, laying the groundwork for many of the continent's modern issues
