One example of a long-term political effect in the old world is the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, which led to the creation of several independent states and had significant political and economic consequences for the region. Another example is the colonization of Africa by European powers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which had long-lasting political and social impacts on the continent, including the creation of artificial national boundaries and the suppression of indigenous cultures and languages. Other long-term political effects in the old world include the rise and fall of empires, the spread of democratic governance, and the emergence of national identity and nationalism.