Changes

Just as [[Rome]] and [[Carthage]] competed in the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. to control peripheral areas of the western [[Mediterranean]], in the 18th and 19th centuries, [[Britain]], [[France]], and other [[Europe]]an [[imperial]]ist powers competed to divide areas far from home, like [[India]], [[China]], [[Southeast Asia]], and [[Africa]], between them. The initial impulse for these divisions was [[mercantilist]], but they evolved into primarily [[military]] contests aimed at [[geopolitical]] dominance. They persisted as political demarcations until overwhelmed by [[World War II]] and the subsequent end of the [[colonialism|colonial era]].

Just as [[Rome]] and [[Carthage]] competed in the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. to control peripheral areas of the western [[Mediterranean]], in the 18th and 19th centuries, [[Britain]], [[France]], and other [[Europe]]an [[imperial]]ist powers competed to divide areas far from home, like [[India]], [[China]], [[Southeast Asia]], and [[Africa]], between them. The initial impulse for these divisions was [[mercantilist]], but they evolved into primarily [[military]] contests aimed at [[geopolitical]] dominance. They persisted as political demarcations until overwhelmed by [[World War II]] and the subsequent end of the [[colonialism|colonial era]].

The term "sphere of influence" first appeared in the division of Africa at the Berlin Conference (also known as the "Congo Conference") of 1884 – 1885, which apportioned dominance of the continent between Britain, [[Belgium]], France, [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Portugal]], and [[Spain]]. In 1885, a [[bilateral]] agreement between [[Great Britain]] and Germany divided control of the Gulf of Guinea between them. Each undertook not to interfere in the interests of the other in its designated sphere. In 1890, the two concluded a similar division of spheres of influence in [[East Africa]].

The term "sphere of influence" first appeared in the division of [[Africa]] at the Berlin Conference (also known as the "Congo Conference") of 1884 – 1885, which apportioned dominance of the continent between Britain, [[Belgium]], France, [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Portugal]], and [[Spain]]. In 1885, a [[bilateral]] agreement between [[Great Britain]] and Germany divided control of the Gulf of Guinea between them. Each undertook not to interfere in the interests of the other in its designated sphere. In 1890, the two concluded a similar division of spheres of influence in [[East Africa]].

==Western hemisphere==

==Western hemisphere==