The Berlin Conference took place from 1884 to 1885, where European powers gathered to discuss the colonization and trade in Africa. The conference aimed to establish rules for the partitioning of the continent, ensuring that no single nation could claim it entirely. This meeting was crucial in the "Scramble for Africa," as it set the stage for the rapid colonization of African territories by European countries. The conference was organized by Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, and included representatives from major European nations like Britain, France, and Portugal. The decisions made at the conference disregarded existing African cultures and political boundaries, leading to long-term consequences for the continent's development and stability.