Question

During the Berlin conference, the European powers divided Africa into many different parts. These European powers had control, over resources, government, and people within that area. Do you believe this could have a negative or positive effects on the African people and the country? Tell me why! Answer in two to three sentences.

Answer 1

Overall, the effects were largely negative because European powers extracted resources, imposed arbitrary borders and governments, undermined local authority, and created economic and social systems that favored the colonizers, which sowed long-term conflict and underdevelopment. While colonial rule did bring some infrastructure and administrative institutions, these were mainly built to serve European interests and often benefited Africans only unevenly.