Final answer:
Europeans largely ignored ethnicity when dividing Africa during the Berlin Conference in 1884, focusing on resource acquisition and geopolitical power rather than the implications for local populations. Ethnic communities were split and combined without regard for cultural coherence, leading to ongoing conflicts within African nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether Europeans considered ethnicity when dividing up Africa is significant when studying the colonial history of the continent. During the Berlin Conference in 1884, which orchestrated the so-called 'Scramble for Africa', European nations largely disregarded ethnic boundaries in their quest for territorial control. Their objectives were primarily focused on obtaining resources and exerting geopolitical influence, with little consideration for the impact such divisions would have on the resident populations.
Colonial borders routinely split communities and placed conflicting ethnic groups within the same territory, sowing the seeds for future strife. The Europeans exploited both the land and people for economic gain, often employing brutal measures to ensure compliance. The rhetoric of a mission to 'civilize' African peoples has frequently been called into question as it was juxtaposed against actions that were more in line with exploitation and conquest than with any benevolent intent.
The aftermath of European colonization, marked by arbitrary borders and disregard for ethnic and cultural coherence, has led to persistent political and social challenges within African nations. The concept of self-determination was contravened in Africa, with external powers imposing structures that suited their own interests rather than those of the African peoples.