C/H/24. Why did the European powers divide African continent up with such great speed? How did this partition take place and what conflicts did it bring with it?

The division of Africa came amongst political and economic change in 19th Century Europe. The exterior of Africa had long been colonized by the European powers in respect to the one strong-slave trade, as a route to India and the Middle East and the gold trade. The interior, however, was neglected because it was seen to have no real advantage to the political and economic agendas of Europe. At the end of 19th Century Europe began to transform from traditional cottage industry, farming and merchant based economy to industrialized countries, with mass production. This essay is going to explore the events and motivations behind the partition of Africa and its consequences and conflicts. These conflicts are still seen today with the recent UN Peacekeeping Missions, because the partition of Africa paid no heed to traditional tribal boundaries. Therefore this essay is going to be separated into three sections, which are; the theoretical background to the economic and political background to the partition of Africa; the events and how partition took place; and finally the modern consequences of the partition.