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Primarily it was to obtain the raw materials that existed there. At the time, much of Africa was an unexplored land with untapped resources.

Since Africa was technologically inferior to Europe at the time, and the populations there mainly primitive, establishing colonies was not prohibitively difficult. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 essentially "divided up" Africa into various European colonies and spheres of influence, many of which lasted until the middle of the 20th century.

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14y ago

What was the main reason European countries colonized Africa in the 19th century?

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13y ago

The primary reasons are money and power.

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Greed

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Q: What was the main reason European countries colonized Africa in the 19th century?
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European nations colonized Africa in the late 1800s because of its?

European nations colonized Africa in the 19th century because of it's wealth of natural resources. Africa had a great amount of petroleum, lead, tin, copper and precious gems. Africa was a source of economic growth for the European countries.


Who was west Africa most colonized by?

West Africa was largely colonized by the French. Because of this, it was known as French West Africa. The countries of Algeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, and others were all colonized by the French, and did not gain their independence until the last half of the 20th century,


What imperial countries colonized west Africa?

Among the European countries that established their own colonies in Africa were Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. While some countries (including France, Spain, and Portugal) had colonized parts of Africa as far back as the 1500s, the majority of the colonization by the European powers occurred in the mid-to late 1800s. To a certain extent, the Dutch were apart of this colonization as they formed a group of other Europeans who settled in what was South Africa. They were called Afrikaners.


What European nation colonized most of west Africa?

Most of West Africa was colonized by France.


What European countries colonized Burundi?

Burundi was originally colonized by Germany as part of German East Africa in the 1880s. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the area now known as Burundi was ceded to Belgium.

Related questions

Why do so many countries in Africa speak European languages?

Due to the colonisation of African countries, mostly occurring in the nineteenth century (called the European Scramble for Africa)The three most powerful and successful colonisers were Portugal (Mozambique), France (Mauritius, Northeast Africa) and the United Kingdom (Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa).Because some African countries were once/some still are ruled/colonized by European countries.


European nations colonized Africa in the late 1800s because of its?

European nations colonized Africa in the 19th century because of it's wealth of natural resources. Africa had a great amount of petroleum, lead, tin, copper and precious gems. Africa was a source of economic growth for the European countries.


What European nation colonized most of Africa?

Most of West Africa was colonized by France.


How do you use the word century in a sentence?

Much of Africa was colonized by European nations during the nineteenth century. The year 2001 marked the start of a new century.


Who was west Africa most colonized by?

West Africa was largely colonized by the French. Because of this, it was known as French West Africa. The countries of Algeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, and others were all colonized by the French, and did not gain their independence until the last half of the 20th century,


What European nation colonized most of west Africa?

Most of West Africa was colonized by France.


What imperial countries colonized west Africa?

Among the European countries that established their own colonies in Africa were Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. While some countries (including France, Spain, and Portugal) had colonized parts of Africa as far back as the 1500s, the majority of the colonization by the European powers occurred in the mid-to late 1800s. To a certain extent, the Dutch were apart of this colonization as they formed a group of other Europeans who settled in what was South Africa. They were called Afrikaners.


What countries were not colonized in Africa?

Ethiopia


What was a European nation that did not participate in the colonized of Africa?

Switzerland


What European countries colonized South Africa and for how long?

Only 1 country colonized South Africa (England).The Dutch east India company set up a port in South Africa which lead to some people settling in South Africa but not under imperial order


Where was Africa colonized?

At the peak of the colonial period in the early 20th century, the entire continent of Africa was colonized, every inch.


Why did imperialism become so essential in 1850?

This is when most of the European countries were fighting over power. It was the time where Europeans had invaded and had colonized almost all of Africa, and started to colonized central Asia.