The Berlin Conference: How One Man Reshaped Africa

In 1884, European powers met in Berlin to carve up Africa. But one man—Leopold II of Belgium—manipulated the conference so effectively that he ended up with a personal empire, the Congo Free State, which he ran as his own private fiefdom. This episode unpacks Leopold's diplomatic cunning, his use of Henry Morton Stanley and Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, and how the General Act of Berlin legitimized his brutal rule. We trace the origins of Leopold's ambition, his connections with the United States and Great Britain, and the devastating consequences for the people of the Congo. Join Lucas and Luna as they explore the backroom deals and high-stakes negotiations that set the stage for decades of exploitation. #LeopoldII #CongoFreeState #BerlinConference #ScrambleForAfrica #HenryMortonStanley #PierreSavorgnanDeBrazza #EffectiveOccupation #GeneralActOfBerlin #Colonialism #19thCenturyHistory #Belgium #AfricanHistory #Imperialism #Diplomacy #History #FexingoHistory #PoliticalHistory #EuropeanColonization Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo