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Final answer:
The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 played a crucial role in intensifying European colonial activity in Africa by establishing rules for territorial claims among European nations. The conference disregarded existing ethnic and political boundaries, leading to arbitrary divisions that caused long-term conflict. Its legacy is marked by the extensive colonization of Africa, which significantly altered the continent's political landscape.
Explanation:
The Role of the Berlin Conference in European Colonial Activity in Africa
The Berlin Conference, held from 1884 to 1885, was a significant event that marked the beginning of a period of increased European colonial activity in Africa, often referred to as the Scramble for Africa. Convened by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the conference was attended by representatives from 14 nations, including the United States, with the intention of regulating the competition among European powers for territory on the African continent.
At the conference, European powers divided Africa into various spheres of influence with no regard for the existing tribal boundaries or the consent of African leaders. Only two attendees had actually been to Africa, and no Africans were present to represent their interests. This led to the establishment of arbitrary borders that disregarded historical and ethnic divisions, which would later result in numerous conflicts and issues following colonization.
The Berlin Conference's principles set forth the notion of effective occupation, requiring that a European nation could only claim rights to a territory if it had established treaties with local rulers and demonstrated some form of economic development. The decisions made at this conference not only facilitated the colonization of nearly the entire continent but also laid the groundwork for future disputes and civil unrest in newly formed African nations.
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