The Scramble for Africa (Or, How the African Countries Got Their Shapes)

Most of Africa was generally unknown to the rest of the world until the 1880s. Then, an ambitious and ruthless king from a minor European country “sparked” a rush for glory and riches that years later would be known infamously as the “Scramble for Africa.” The result was a carving up of the great continent, first into colonies and later nation-states that generally ignored the cultures and histories of its indigenous peoples. We will examine the roots and legacy of the Scramble, specifically how the map of Africa evolved into the configuration we recognize today.