Books The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912  by Thomas Pakenham

"The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912" by Thomas Pakenham is a comprehensive historical account of the European colonization of Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book describes the intense competition among European powers to acquire African territories, a period famously known as the "Scramble for Africa." It begins with the death of missionary-explorer David Livingstone, whose call for Commerce, Christianity, and Civilization aimed to end the slave trade in Africa but was soon overshadowed by the drive for Conquest.

Pakenham details key figures such as King Leopold II of Belgium, who aggressively exploited the Congo as his personal fiefdom, and the roles played by explorers, soldiers, and politicians from Britain, France, Germany, and other nations. The narrative covers famous battles like Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zlu War, highlighting the mixture of greed, nationalism, and humanitarian rhetoric that propelled the colonization. Despite initial ideals, conquest and exploitation dominated, often resulting in atrocities against African populations.