Belgian Congo
Definition
The Belgian Congo was a large area in Central Africa that was ruled by Belgium from 1908 to 1960. It was known for its brutal exploitation of the local population and natural resources.
Analogy
Think of the Belgian Congo as a giant, unregulated factory where the workers (the Congolese people) were forced to work under harsh conditions with little to no pay, while the factory owner (Belgium) reaped all the profits.
Related terms
Colonialism: This is a system where one country dominates and exploits another country or territory for its own benefit.
Leopold II of Belgium: He was the King of Belgium who initially established personal control over Congo before it became a colony of Belgium.
Decolonization: This refers to the process by which colonies gain their independence from colonial powers. In this case, it would refer to how Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
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