The Scramble for Africa

In the late 1800s, European countries raced to explore and claim land in Africa. This time is called the Scramble for Africa. Explorers mapped rivers, mountains, and jungles. But this scramble also caused great harm to the African people who already lived there.

Explorers in Africa

European explorers like David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley traveled deep into Africa. Livingstone explored the Zambezi River and saw Victoria Falls. Stanley traveled across the entire continent. These explorers made maps and wrote about what they saw. Their reports made European countries want to claim African lands.

The Impact on Africa

In 1884, European leaders met in Berlin to divide up Africa among themselves. They drew lines on maps without asking African people. European countries took control of almost the entire continent. This caused great suffering for many African communities. Most African countries did not gain independence until the 1900s.

Fun Facts

• By 1914, European countries controlled about 90 percent of Africa.
• David Livingstone was the first European to see Victoria Falls, which he named after Queen Victoria.
• Ethiopia and Liberia were the only two African countries that were never colonized by Europe.

Did You Know?

When reporter Henry Morton Stanley found the lost explorer David Livingstone in Africa, he famously said, 'Dr. Livingstone, I presume?'