Essay Sample about European Colonialism: The Berlin Conference of 1884

Africa was colonized by seven European powers. These powers included France, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Spain. The European powers were drawn to Africa due to the continent's abundance of natural commodities. The Berlin Conference from November 15th 1884 and February 25th 1885, was aimed at settling the disputes of  European power in Africa. The purpose of the conference was to separate Africa between the different European powers. European leaders have explicitly stated that their purpose in establishing colonies was to provide indigenous peoples the benefits of Western civilization. However, the colonizers increased ethnic tensions, preventing ethnic groups from banding together to fight the European colonists. African leaders were left out of the Berlin Conference because they most likely would want to keep their land for themselves. The Berlin Conference affected the nations of Africa by taking their land, creating more tensions between African tribes, and a sustainable economy.

The seven European countries were initially divided by coastal areas. To prevent conflict, they met to formally divide the land. The Berlin West Africa Conference: A Timely Centenary by John Hargreaves shows which European power retained different pieces of land. Belgium established modern day congo. Britain controlled Egypt, Sudan, southern Africa, and East Africa. The French established territory in North and West Africa. The Portuguese, Spanish, Italians, and Germans maintained control of important coastal regions in southwestern and southeast Africa. When the colonizers divided the land, they had no regard for the native groups in those lands.  They ended up having enemy native groups living amongst each other. This led some ethnic groups to scatter among new countries. 

European colonists viewed themselves as the “superior” culture compared to the native African people. They wanted to spread their Western ideas with the ethnic people of Africa. Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism in Africa by Horace Campbell shows how the Europeans stayed in power over the indigenous people. European leaders would create tensions between the different tribes living in the same colony. The Europeans wanted to make sure the native African people didnt work together to seek self-government. The ethnic groups were already separated before because of language and no experience living together. This added on to the tension that was already apparent between the groups. 

The colonizers would take advantage of the natural resources and wealth. Natural resources and riches would be exploited by conquerors. These materials would be gathered and sold. Chapter 2:The impact of Colonialism on Africa by Robert Rotberg and William Mark Habeeb explains how the colonizers disrupted and damaged established institutions and economic traditions. The French developed  plantations to produce coffee, sugar, and cocoa, all of which were in high demand among French consumers, this led to Ivorian farmers to forgo indigenus food crops. Portuguese colonists constructed coffee, cotton, and sugar cane farms in Angola. Thousands of Portuguese settlers relocated to Angola to manage plantations with indigenous Africans supplying work. Belgium’s King Leopold forced the working-age in Congo to work on mines and rubber plantations. King Leopold was one of the most brutal rulers at this time. Genocides killed between 4 and 8 million African natives while millions more died of famine and illness.

The Berlin Conference had an impact on African nations by stealing their land, increasing conflicts amongst African tribes, and preventing a robust economy. The European colonizers came to Africa because of its riches, agricultural resources and their Western views. The Africans were robbed of their cultural identity and heritage by the Europeans. This influence may still be seen today in Africa as the continent struggles to grow.