1884–1914Reputable sourceWell documented
The Scramble for Africa
On the timeline · around 1884–1914 ·
What happened
In the late 19th century the European powers raced to carve up Africa, formalizing their claims at the Berlin Conference of 1884–85. Britain seized a vast swathe — from Egypt and Sudan through East Africa to South Africa — pursuing a dream of a continuous empire 'from Cairo to the Cape.'
Why it matters
The Scramble for Africa brought most of the continent under European rule in a single generation, adding enormous territories to the British Empire and imposing borders and divisions whose consequences endure across Africa today.