The vast majority of African nations have claimed their independence from the European motherland. However, this did not stop Europeans from leaving a permanent mark on the continent. European colonialism has shaped modern Africa, largely for the worse, but also for the better. Including these positive and negative effects, colonialism has also touched much of Africa's history and culture, especially in recent years. To properly understand the effects of colonization, it is necessary to look at its history. Most of Africa was relatively isolated from Europe throughout world history, but this changed between the 17th and 20th centuries. Colonization efforts reached their peak between 1870 and 1900 in the “Scramble for Africa” that left the continent looking like a jigsaw puzzle. Various European powers succeeded in colonizing Africa including Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal and Spain. This intense imperialist aggression had three main causes. The main reason was simply financial gain. Africa is the haven of vast unexplored natural resources. The European powers saw their opportunity and seized it. Another reason was to spread the Christian religion among the non-Christian natives. The last major incentive was to demonstrate power among competing European nations. African societies attempted to resist colonial takeovers through guerrilla warfare or direct military engagement. Their efforts, however, were in vain, as by the end of the century, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained uncolonized. European powers colonized Africa under the guidelines established by the Act of Berlin (1885). Many of the colonized nations were governed indirectly through appointed governors… middle of paper… Aharan Africa. Although North Africa is predominantly Muslim, 21% of the world's Christian population lives in Africa. Some former colonies have also adopted their former ruler's own form of currency. An example of this is Egypt using the Egyptian pound instead of the British pound. There is no doubt that European colonialism has left a serious impact on Africa. Many of Africa's current and recent problems have their roots in poor decisions made during the European colonial era. However, some benefits have resulted, such as modern medicine, education and infrastructure. Africa's history and culture have also been transformed. It will take many years for the scars left by colonization to fade, but some things may never disappear completely. The continent's fate may be unclear, but its past gives us insight into why the present is the way it is.