Which continent experienced a scramble for territories by European powers at the end of the 19th century?

• A. Europe
• B. Asia
• C. Africa
• D. South America

Answer: (C)

The main idea is the late-19th-century rush among European powers to claim and divide new lands overseas. This period is most famously known as the scramble for Africa, where Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and others rushed to carve up the continent, driven by motives like resources, markets, and strategic advantage. The Berlin Conference of 1884–85 helped formalize the division, often disregarding existing African kingdoms and cultures. By around 1900, much of Africa was under European control, making it the continent most associated with this sweeping territorial scramble. While Europe and Asia had imperial competition as well, Africa is the clear example of this phenomenon, unlike South America, which had earlier waves of colonization long before this era.