Essay about The making of modern Africa - 1393 Words

The Making of Modern Africa: Colonialism Take a look at the past, our history; although there is only one factual outcome, there are an infinite number of opinions, perspectives and almost always more than one side to a story. I will be taking a look in to the novel, Colonial Africa, written by Dennis Laumann, as well as, African Perspectives on Colonialism, by A. Adu Boahen, and hopefully through this, we can gain a stronger understanding of Colonialism in Africa and how Boahen and Laumann compare and differ. On (p.1), Boahen states, â€Å"The most surprising aspects of the imposition of colonialism on Africa were its suddenness and its unpredictability.† When I began reading I lacked an understanding of what this could really mean. I†¦show more content†¦Boahen compares the native religions and the cultural aspect of Christian missionaries, and in the end describes the negative impact of European Colonization on Africa. While Boahen shares his words through the African perspective, Laumann presents a more straightforward, balanced overview of the colonial take over. In Colonial Africa, Laumann presents the colonization of African through what I feel to be a less bias perspective. Laumen shares information from Africa as a whole as well as the regional perspectives, touching on many of the same complications such as the understanding African people had of the world during this time. By the end of the 19th century we begin to see an end to the African slave trade. By 1880 the British naval squadron had successfully suppressed the trade of slaves across the Atlantic as well as the other major trade routs such as the Trans-Saharan. As many African leaders and kings objected to this change in trade Britain refused to drop the new trade restrictions. This eventually made way for equality of rights as well as a created a more equitable distribution of wealth through out the African people. From this, the African economy shifted and began to thrive on the trade of natural resources and in turn became a â€Å"gathering-based economy,† as Boahen states on (p.6). The trade of cocoa, peanuts, ivory, and rubber emerged and quickly replacedShow MoreRelatedEvolution Of Culture Midterm Essay1307 Words   |  6 Pagesin Africa and the Middle East, Homo erectus inhabited Asia, and Homo neanderthalensis flourished throughout Europe. These species however, all lacked a co gnitive flexibility which would destroy the blinding walls that blocked any connection between their multiple intelligences. All of science agrees that Homo erectus originated in Africa and expanded to Eurasia one million years ago. However, around 30,000 years ago, taxonomic diversity suddenly disappears and humans evolved into their modern formRead MoreWho Were th Neanderthals?1223 Words   |  5 PagesNeanderthals are modern humans closest extinct relative. 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