The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 was significant because it formalized the scramble for Africa among European powers. Convened by Otto von Bismarck, the conference aimed to establish rules for the colonization and partition of the African continent to prevent conflict among European nations. It resulted in the Berlin Act, which mandated that European powers notify each other of their claims and effectively asserted the principle of effective occupation. The conference disregarded the existing cultural and tribal boundaries in Africa, leading to long-term political and social ramifications, including conflicts that can still be seen today as a consequence of arbitrary colonial borders.