Final answer:
The Berlin Conference was pivotal in establishing colonial boundaries in Africa by dividing the continent among European powers without African representation. The conference's decisions laid the groundwork for future political unrest due to the disregard for indigenous territories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Role of the Berlin Conference in the Creation of Colonial Boundaries
The Berlin Conference played a crucial role in the establishment of colonial boundaries in Africa. In particular, it did not create a new African nation, lead to the formation of the United Nations, nor had it any role in the creation of MAP 2. The primary outcome of the conference was the division of African territory among European powers.
During the conference, hosted by Otto von Bismarck in 1884, representatives from 14 European countries and the United States gathered to agree on how to divide Africa and draw colonial boundary lines, leading to an organized ‘scramble’ for Africa. Notably, African nations, except the Ottoman provinces, were not represented, which led to the creation of arbitrary borders that ignored indigenous territories and contributed to future political instability.
Furthermore, these colonial boundaries facilitated the European colonial ambitions of resource extraction and market expansion, setting the scene for the colonial rule that followed the conference. This event significantly influenced the geopolitical landscape of Africa, often with disregard for the ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity of the continent.