Final answer:
By 1914, the UK was the most powerful colonial country in Africa due to its extensive territorial holdings and strategic control over key trade routes and resources, bolstered by outcomes of the Berlin Conference and technological advantages.
Step-by-step explanation:
By 1914, the most powerful colonial country in Africa was arguably the United Kingdom (UK). The UK's prominence as a colonial power in Africa was due in part to its vast and strategic holdings on the continent, including Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and numerous other territories across the African landscape. British influence in Africa stemmed from economic interests, strategic control of key trade routes and resources, and competition with other European powers, notably France. The UK's extensive network of colonies allowed it to maintain its dominance over important trade routes and resources, supporting its position as a major global power.
The Berlin Conference of 1884 played a significant role in setting the stage for this partitioning of Africa, wherein European powers agreed on boundaries for their respective colonies. The conference was marked by an absence of African representation, and European powers, driven by nationalistic fervor and the advances of the Industrial Revolution, carved the continent to suit their imperial ambitions. This scramble for territory led to the establishment of boundaries that would last well into the post-colonial era.
Technological advancements like steamships, quinine for malaria, and lethal weaponry enabled European powers to dominate and, despite resistance from African kingdoms, eventually control vast regions of the continent. The seizure of Africa's territories not only displayed the might of colonial powers but also paved the way for the exploitation of Africa's natural resources, inhibiting the development of local industries and governance structures that could have otherwise been beneficial to Africans.