Scramble for Africa

"Every historical event is the result of a convergence of many contributing conditions. A different convergence might result in a different event which, influenced by all the remaining factors, would in turn lead to consequences different from those that in fact occurred and, thus, there would begin on an entire chain of events and phenomena -a different variant of development. The history of European imperialism can therefore be written only in a polycentric fashion. Whether we deal with white expansion in Africa, or with any other great instance of cultural diffusion on a continental scale, no unitary theory will ever untangle for us the richness and variety of the historical skein."

"Europe is the light of the world, and the ark of knowledge: upon the welfare of Europe, hangs the destiny of the most remote and savage people."