Scramble for Africa

One hundred years later, after Britain had lost its 13 colonies in America, Spain and Portugal had lost most of South America, a second wave of colonization took place. From 1880-1900, every corner or place of the earth was claimed by one or other European power. Africa saw the most dramatic colonization during this time. It was called the "scramble for Africa" because of how Africa was divided up like a cake split between european leaders. European nations saw Africa as ripe for the taking. They began to export civilization to a continent which they regarded as undeveloped. This colonization was in reality driven by commercial interests, since Europe would benefit enormously from its exploitation of Africa.