The Scramble for Africa Trivia Quiz

Answer: Berlin

The conference was hosted by Germany and was attended by Austia-Hungary, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United States. The agreement (which was ratified by all the attendees except the USA) held that when claiming a territory in Africa each signatory should inform the others of its intentions in advance and that actual occupation was required rather than just a claim on paper or the planting of a flag.

The agreement was reached in response to rising tensions between the European powers over their claims in Africa.

Despite the agreement, these "rules" were frequently disregarded.

Answer: False

In fact, it was only about 10%. The Scramble for Africa was so frenzied that by the start of the 20th century there were only three independent African nations. In terms of land area, France was the largest colonial power followed by Britain. However, Britain's colonies contained the largest population, about 30% of the African total, with France's next, containing 15% of the population.

Answer: Liberia

Liberia was founded by freed American slaves and became an independent republic in 1847. Egypt was occupied by Britain in 1900. The Union of South Africa became independent of Britain (with Dominion status) in 1910. In 1961 it left the Commonwealth and renamed itself the Republic of South Africa. Morocco was largely independent in 1900 but became a French protectorate in 1912, and Abyssinia was later occupied by Italy.

Answer: King Leopold II of Belgium

A vast swathe of land around the Congo river was given to King Leopold II as a personal fiefdom by the Congress of Berlin. Known as the Congo Free State it has been described as one of the most shameful episodes in the European colonisation of Africa.

When details of the atrocities being committed there (plunder, slave labour, rape, mutilation) became widely known, the Belgian government forced Leopold to surrender control of the area in 1908 which then became known as the Belgian Congo. It became independent of Belgium as the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1960.

It was renamed Zaire in 1971 but reverted to its previous name in 1997.

Answer: Italy

Abyssinia resisted European attempts at conquest. Italy saw Abyssinia as a possible link between its territories in Libya and Somalia. The Italian army was routed at Adowa and the Italian government was forced to conclude the Treaty of Addis Ababa which guaranteed Abyssinian independence. However, Italy did later occupy Abyssinia (1936-41).

Answer: Britain and France

Britain and France were the two dominant colonial powers in Africa. France aimed to link its territories in west and east Africa while Britain sought to do the same with its territories in north and south Africa. Fashoda (now Kodok in modern-day Sudan) lay at the strategically important crossroads and both countries tried to occupy the fort there.

Despite having been at peace since the end of the Napoleonic Wars, these two traditional enemies almost came to blows over control of Sudan. The incident was resolved diplomatically in Britain's favour and led to improved relations between Britain and France that was to have important consequences as tensions rose in Europe prior to the First World War.

Answer: Equatorial Guinea

Guinea-Bissau was a Portuguese colony. Guinea was French and Benin was formerly the French colony of Dahomey. Spain's other African territories were Spanish Sahara, now known as Western Sahara and claimed by Morocco and a small part of Morocco.

Answer: Italy

German East Africa was given to Britain and became known as Tanganyika. It became independent of Britain in 1961 and in 1964 united with Zanzibar to become Tanzania. Togoland was split between Britian and France, the British part merging with Ghana and the French part becoming independent as Togo in 1960. Cameroon was also split between Britian and France, the two parts reuniting to become an independent republic in 1961. Ruanda-Urundi was given to Belgium and became independent as the separate republics of Rwanda and Burundi in 1962. German South-West Africa was given to the Union of South Africa and did not become independent until 1990, when it took the name Namibia.

Answer: France

France had two very large African territories: French West Africa (comprising the modern-day countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal); and French Equatorial Africa (comprising the modern-day countries of the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville) and Gabon).

In addition Morocco, Algeria, French Somaliland (modern-day Djibouti), the Comoros and Madagascar were all French possessions.

Answer: To bring Christianity and civilisation to Africa

While many Europeans saw it as their religious and moral duty to bring Christianity and civilization, as they saw it, to Africa their governments acted primarily out of less noble motives. They wanted access to Africa's vast natural resources, they wanted access to important strategic locations and they wanted the prestige of having overseas possessions or even overseas empires.

The period was marked by an arrogant and often brutal disregard on the part of the European powers for the wishes and freedoms of the native Africans.

The actions of the colonial powers have had unfortunate repercussions on Africa ever since, often inflamming enthic tensions which still plague many of the former colonies.