The Scramble for Africa was a major historical event during the time of the
Age of Imperialism. It saw the European powers of the 19th century colonize Africa for its economic opportunities, among other things.
King Leopold II of Belgium ruled over the Congo Free State throughout the period of Imperialism in Africa. Leopold II’s actions in the Congo have come to symbolize the brutality of the period of the Age of Imperialism, and how it created a differing set of legacies for Europe and Africa.
Leopold II of Belgium was notorious for his brutal exploitation of the Congo Free State in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where his regime led to widespread atrocities, forced labor, and the deaths of millions of Congolese people.
Egypt played an important role in the history of the Age of Imperialism. Specifically, the European powers were interested in constructing and controlling the Suez Canal, because it offered a strategic and economic advantage.
Social Darwinism is a theory that applies the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’ from Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to human societies, often justifying inequality, imperialism, and social hierarchy. It is most commonly seen in history in terms of economic, the Age of Imperialism and Nazi Germany.
The Berlin Conference of 1884 was one of the most important events of the Scramble For Africa. It was a key event in the division of Africa among the European powers and played an important role in the Age of Imperialism.
The Maxim gun, invented by Hiram Maxim in 1884, was the first fully automatic machine gun, significantly impacting warfare by providing European colonial forces with a powerful weapon that contributed to their dominance during the Scramble for Africa.
The Second Moroccan Crisis was an important event in history and impacted both the Scramble for Africa and World War I.
The First Moroccan Crisis was an important event in history that had impacts for both the Scramble of Africa and World War I.
This Scramble for Africa map was created by History Crunch to help students and teachers understand the geographic extent of European colonization of the African continent between approximately 1870 and 1914. It shows which European powers controlled which regions of Africa and the small number of territories that remained independent. Designed for students in grades 5 to 12.