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Africa is the continent south of [[Europe]] and southwest of [[Asia]].  

Africa is the continent south of [[Europe]] and southwest of [[Asia]].  

To minimize armed conflict the Europeans held the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885 in order to decide how best to colonize Africa. Ethnic and cultural differences within Africa were ignored, and lines of demarcation were drawn to aid the European nations in this effort. All of Africa except for Ethiopia (which resisted Italian control in 1896) and Liberia were divided and colonized by the European nations.  

To minimize armed conflict the Europeans held the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885 in order to decide how best to colonize Africa. Ethnic and cultural differences within Africa were ignored, and lines of demarcation were drawn to aid the European nations in this effort. All of Africa except for Ethiopia (which resisted Italian control in 1896) and Liberia were divided and colonized by the European nations.  

One of Africa’s Biggest and wealthiest countries today is South Africa, located on the southern tip of the continent. It has a very advantageous location for trade routes by sea from Western Europe to India and the Far East. As a result, there was far more immigration by Europeans to South Africa than any other region of Africa, and whites of European ancestry (English and Dutch) ruled South Africa until the late twentieth century. Since then, democracy has brought representative government to the African ethnic groups.  The World Cup (soccer) will be played in 2010 in South Africa, the first time it has ever been held in Africa.

One of Africa’s Biggest and wealthiest countries today is South Africa, located on the southern tip of the continent. It has a very advantageous location for trade routes by sea from Western Europe to India and the Far East. As a result, there was far more immigration by Europeans to South Africa than any other region of Africa, and whites of European ancestry (English and Dutch) ruled South Africa until the late twentieth century. Since then, democracy has brought representative government to the African ethnic groups.  The World Cup (soccer) will be played in 2010 in South Africa, the first time it has ever been held in Africa.

European imperialism on the African continent had both good and bad effects. On the good side, the Europeans brought advances in technology, built hospitals, and improved the infrastructure, such as railroads, telephones, telegraphs, sanitation and other public works.  This improved trade and communications, and reduced disease. Europeans also built schools, but used them to teach European language and culture rather than respecting local traditions. Literacy did improve as a result, however. On the bad side, the Europeans displaced Africans from their individual farms and shifted them into working for European businesses. Africans lost control of their land and saw a reduction in their own food crops. Europeans also completely disrupted African cultural groups and village life, resulting in arbitrary geographical boundaries that continue to cause war and strife to this day.

European imperialism on the African continent had both good and bad effects. On the good side, the Europeans brought advances in technology, built hospitals, and improved the infrastructure, such as railroads, telephones, telegraphs, sanitation and other public works.  This improved trade and communications, and reduced disease. Europeans also built schools, but used them to teach European language and culture rather than respecting local traditions. Literacy did improve as a result, however. On the bad side, the Europeans displaced Africans from their individual farms and shifted them into working for European businesses. Africans lost control of their land and saw a reduction in their own food crops. Europeans also completely disrupted African cultural groups and village life, resulting in arbitrary geographical boundaries that continue to cause war and strife to this day.

[[Category:Geography]]

Congo Free State Genocide[http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat2.htm#Congo]