118k views
4 votes
What was leopold II's contribution to the colonization of africa

2 Answers

3 votes

Answer:

King Leopold II was the ruler of the Congo Free State, and the King of Belgium. He was interested in the Congo river basin because there were many natural resources such as rubber, minerals, ivory, diamonds, and gold. Keen on establishing Belgium as an imperial power, he led the first European efforts to develop the Congo River basin, making possible the formation in 1885 of the Congo Free State, annexed in 1908 as the Belgian Congo and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Oris Sin
by
3.6k points
1 vote

Answer:

Although Leopold II established Belgium as a colonial power in Africa, he is best known for the widespread atrocities that were carried out under his rule, as a result of which as many as 10 million people died in the Congo Free State.

User Ybbest
by
3.5k points