The main purpose of the Berlin Conference held in 1884-85 was to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa. Convened by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck of Germany, the conference was attended by major European powers that sought to divide African territories among themselves without conflict. This led to the "Scramble for Africa," which resulted in the establishment of colonial borders and governance based on European interests, often disregarding existing ethnic and cultural divisions. The outcomes of the Berlin Conference had long-lasting repercussions, shaping the modern political landscape of Africa.