I’ll be starting an occasional feature on this blog which I will call “Know Your History.” They will be short and to the point explanations of interesting or important moments in history. These vignettes will not be meant as a detailed and authoritative source about the chosen topic, but perhaps it will sent you to a sight to read more about it and ponder its significance. On a side note, I think an understanding of history is crucial for writers. 🙂 Here’s the first one: 1884 Berlin Conference

Imagine you own a beautiful piece of property; it’s an expansive piece of land with a massive woods, rich farm lands, priceless natural resources, and amazing natural wonders. You love your land. It’s all you’ve ever known.

Now let’s imagine that on the other side of the world (I’ll pick on Asia because I live there) in Southeast Asia, all the countries of ASEAN get together for a conference for the sole purpose of deciding how they will divide up your land. No, you are not invited to this conference. No, they are not going to offer to buy the land from you. Actually, you – the person that lives there – will have no bearing on their conversations at all. Singapore starts by saying they want the portion by the waterway so they can build a port. Laos and Vietnam decide that they will split the woods in two for lumber. Cambodia says that they would be happy with a part of the farmland, but Malaysia argues with them for a while until they come to an agreement. Myanmar insists on a piece of land by the river. The ASEAN countries, month after month, pound out an agreement until your piece of land, 12,000 miles away, is cut, diced, and sliced in many pieces until everyone gets their piece labeled on a map of your land. Oh, and then they come to conquer it.

This all sounds rather absurd, doesn’t it?

This is exactly what happened at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 except the role of ASEAN was played by the European colonialists and your land was actually the continent of Africa.

In the end, Africa was divided and conquered and the indigenous peoples and their ecosystems were not once thought about. The men at the Berlin Conference considered the peoples of Africa to be less than human. No consideration was paid whatsoever to tribal lines and loyalties, so as the Europeans sliced the map, enemy tribes ended up living side by side with each other – a fact that still addresses many underlying political issues of modern day Africa. In addition, resources were systematically taken from Africa and sent to the mother lands.

One long conference which has had a tremendous impact on 20th and 21st century Africa.

Learn more about it!