The primary purpose of the Berlin Conference in 1884 was to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period. Convened by the major European powers, the conference aimed to prevent conflicts among them as they competed for African territories. It established guidelines for claiming land, ensuring that any European nation could claim territory in Africa if they had established effective occupation. This meeting significantly impacted Africa, leading to the "Scramble for Africa," where European countries divided much of the continent among themselves without regard for indigenous cultures or political boundaries.