Imperialism is an unequal human and territorial relationship, usually in the form of an empire, based on ideas of superiority and practices

of dominance, and involving the extension of authority and control of one state or people over another. The most famous example of Imperialism is The Scramble for Africa, which was the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of African territory by European powers during the New Imperialism period between 1881 and 1914.

Before 1914, as you can see here, Africa was only colonized by the Europeans in small coastal outposts. But the attraction of lucrative goods unique to Africa, in some cases control of strategic geographical features, and the competition between rival European powers led European countries to try to control increasingly large areas of Africa. The chain reaction of competition that set off the scramble for the rest of Africa was the acquisition of the Congo. This acquisition led to the Berlin Conference of 1884, which regulated European colonization and trade in Africa. It was the formalization of the Scramble for Africa.

Consequent to the political and economic rivalries among the European empires, in the last quarter of the 19th century, the partitioning of Africa was how the Europeans avoided warring amongst themselves over Africa. This suppression of the Africans self-autonomy through imposed colonial rule lasted until after World War II. The decolonization of Africa followed World War II because colonized peoples agitated for independence. Slowly, one by one, the colonial powers withdrew their administrators from Africa. This change can be seen in the map here, which denotes when each country was decolonized and gained its independence.