Late 1800s Colonial Competition: Centered on Africa

The "Scramble for Africa" and Beyond

The late 19th-century colonial competition was primarily centered in Africa, known as the "Scramble for Africa" (1880s–1914). Major European powers—Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Spain—established colonies and protectorates across the continent.

Other Key Regions

• Southeast Asia: Britain (Burma, Malaya), France (Indochina), Netherlands (East Indies), US (Philippines)
• Pacific Islands: Germany, Britain, France, USA claimed various archipelagos

Drivers

Economic exploitation, strategic military positioning, national prestige, and the "civilizing mission" ideology drove this intensified imperialism, formalized at the 1884–85 Berlin Conference.