The Scramble for Africa was a period of rapid European colonization of the African continent that took place primarily between 1870 and 1914. During this time, the major European powers, including Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Portugal, competed aggressively for territory and control over Africa’s vast resources and people. By the early 20th century, nearly the entire continent had been carved up and placed under European control, leaving a legacy of exploitation, conflict, and inequality that continues to shape Africa today.