Changes

[[Image:Africa pol 2003.jpg|thumb|right|9000px|Political boundaries of Africa in recent decades]]

[[Image:Africa pol 2003.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Political boundaries of Africa in recent decades]]

[[Image:Africa ref 2003.jpg|thumb|right|9000px|Shaded relief of Africa]]

[[Image:Africa ref 2003.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Shaded relief of Africa]]

'''Africa''' is the continental landmass to the southwest of Asia, with its only physical land connection being the [[Sinai Peninsula]] in [[Egypt]]; the remaining borders are the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the north, the [[Red Sea]] and [[Indian Ocean]] to the east, and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west.

'''Africa''' is the continental landmass to the southwest of Asia, with its only physical land connection being the [[Sinai Peninsula]] in [[Egypt]]; the remaining borders are the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the north, the [[Red Sea]] and [[Indian Ocean]] to the east, and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west.

==Land==

==Land==

== History ==

== History ==

===Colonization===

===Colonization===

[[Image:AFRICA1881.jpg|thumb|9000px|As late as 1881 European powers had only small holdings along the coast. Then the scramble for territory began.]]

[[Image:AFRICA1881.jpg|thumb|380px|As late as 1881 European powers had only small holdings along the coast. Then the scramble for territory began.]]

European nations held the [[Berlin Conference]] in 1884-1885 in order to decide how to divide Africa in order to best suit their interests. No Africans were invited to the conference. Ethnic and cultural differences within Africa were ignored, and lines of demarcation were drawn to aid the [[Europe]]an nations in their quest to subjugate the continent and its peoples. All of Africa, except for [[Ethiopia]] (which resisted Italian control in 1896) and [[Liberia]], which would become a haven for those returning from slavery, was divided and colonized by the European nations.  This colonization was an example of "white man's burden", the belief that the Africans were unable to develop civilization on their own and it was the role of Europeans to provide that.   

European nations held the [[Berlin Conference]] in 1884-1885 in order to decide how to divide Africa in order to best suit their interests. No Africans were invited to the conference. Ethnic and cultural differences within Africa were ignored, and lines of demarcation were drawn to aid the [[Europe]]an nations in their quest to subjugate the continent and its peoples. All of Africa, except for [[Ethiopia]] (which resisted Italian control in 1896) and [[Liberia]], which would become a haven for those returning from slavery, was divided and colonized by the European nations.  This colonization was an example of "white man's burden", the belief that the Africans were unable to develop civilization on their own and it was the role of Europeans to provide that.