Colonial Territories in Africa in 1880

For thousands of years, Africa had been virtually unknown to the European world. However, in the nineteenth century, as European explorers discovered Africa's rich supply of natural resources and realized Africa's economic potential, a race for African territory began. Because nearly all other profitable regions had already been conquered by the West, Africa was the final major prospect for colonization, and European nations hurried to make sure they received a portion of the lush African land.

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