In History of Africa, Shillington focuses on many aspects of African culture and factors that made Africa to be the continent that it is today. Chapter 5 primarily focuses on the Northern region of Africa and how empires took over and spread their ideology technology, and culture all through out the region. Even today some remnants of the Roman and Greek empire live on to this day (Shillington, 69.) Despite many people getting the impression that Northern Africa is only influenced by Arabic and Islam, these empires and their conquests are best understood through topics like intricate trading routes, farming, and the spread of religion. Shillington provides an in depth analysis of how many of these conquests affected Northern Africa centuries ago and today. On the surface, Africa is commonly viewed negatively. Here in America there is a stigma held that it is filled with nothing but poverty and malaria. Although many entitled Americans hold this perception of Africa, many of Greece’s aristocracy and army saw the potential of this great land. …show more content…
Many other European countries centuries later (i.e. Spain) would mirror the same evangelism to spread their religion and ideology to other cultures. Individuals or sectors who would resist would often times be martyred or subjected to slavery, in the America’s at least. The difference between the evangelism in the Americas in the 1500’s and the evangelism in Ancient Africa is that many people in Roman Egypt and other colonized Roman colonies, who were oppressed, sought out to find faith through Christianity and were killed for it. They saw hope, and promise through this Christianity. But the Romans saw the Christian church as a threat to their empire (Shillington, 74.) Rather than subjecting their faith towards Roman Gods, they decided to not acknowledge them and were persecuted until Constantine took order and converted to
The Trans-Saharan trade network was a vital factor in the affluence of Western African civilizations. In Document A, is a map of Ibn Battuta’s journey through various trade routes spreading through multiple continents during the fourteenth century. Small pictographs are drawn on the map to display the aspects of each culture that Ibn Battuta visited (Doc A). The map illustrates the extent of the Trans-Saharan Trade Network and how it connected West Africa with other regions across the globe.
Europe’s colonisation had major influences upon Africa’s development as a society. The book “Guns, Germs and Steel” written by American Ecologist, Jared Diamond, claims that Africa developed independently and with little major influence from Europe and its people. Moreover, Africa was colonized because of the natural landscape rather then the social and cultural influence from Europe. Controversially, historian Gene Callahan, opposes and describes Africa was developed based was off their own tradition and knowledge rather than through the influence of Europe. Jared Diamond has a valuable perspective on how Europe possibly impacted Africa’s development as a society.
Based on the documents provided, it can be argued that the Europeans were unwelcome and sparked a great disturbance among the African people during new imperialism period all across Africa based on the following perspectives from documents 4 and 9 which demonstrate brutal violence towards Africans, documents 6 and 7 which call for help to remove the presence of the Europeans, and documents 2 and 3 represent how these Africans state wish to avoid being under European power. Throughout the history of European colonization, there is evidence that the Europeans have disrupted and separated majority of the African continent. Based on the documents provided, each document individually states their own problems with the European occupying African
Even in, European countries during this era, the “Scramble for Africa” where the Europeans were fighting for leadership in African
In Africa during the Post-Classical era, 600-1450 CE, the Saharan was no longer a barren wasteland hardly suitable for travel, but, an essential part of both North African and Sub-Saharan West African societies. Camels and caravans allowed for quicker and more effective traveling. With trading becoming increasingly popular in this area, it provided the resources to build new and larger political structures. During this era, Africa’s economy began to change and the western part of Sub-Saharan was no different. With the Trans-Saharan trade routes ability to increase with the help of wealthier Islamic states, it allowed for the spread of religious and political ideas such as larger empires and the Islamic faith in which both greatly influenced
Thus causing the overall spread of Christianity to slow
The final reason that Christianity took hold in the ancient world is because of how devoted the followers of Christianity were. Christians would take people into their homes and take care of them if they were in need, and would do their best to help them get back on their feet. (Doc D) A man named Paul who came to know the Christian religion spent 30 years of his life traveling the eastern Mediterranean sea, preaching the word of Jesus, and he single handedly wrote most of the New Testament letters on his journey. (Doc F) A group of Christians were sentenced to execution for not buying sacrificial items for the Roman gods.
By having no tolerance for crime, the rulers had very successful kingdoms with complete control over them(Doc. 6). Whether it be the close proximity to other parts of the world, the barren deserts, or the rainforests, Africa’s people have been aided in their success by the continent’s natural advantages. A map showing trade routes, this document is the perfect example of Africa’s prime location. Right near Europe and Asia, trading routes in northern and eastern Africa flourished(Doc 1). Although this is another trade route map, it gives us more insight on the routes that were used to get to other parts of the world, such as Asia.
Between 300th century and 1400th century, the most powerful African kingdoms had achieved great goals, such as developing a trade system. The empires in Africa had a solid economy which was supported by their trade. Before the Europeans arrived, these empires had hierarchies and roles in society, which helped the trade system flourish. Some achievements Africa accomplished included trade, wealth, and a complex society.
Throughout history, there have been many significant events that have affected the world in different ways, one being the invention of Christianity. The role of Christianity has been complexly tangled with the history and formation of the western civilization. Christianity has affected the world in many ways, but most noticeably through politics by diminishing the power of Roman authority, society by affecting the way Roman citizens live, and religion by stopping the progression of Islam. First, the invention of Christianity had a huge effect on the politics of the western civilization.
Even though Christians were persecuted on and off during the Roman Empire, Christianity flourished. In the early Roman Empire, when Claudius, Nero, Domitian, and Trajan were emperors, Christianity was banned and Christians were persecuted. Nevertheless, Christians found ways to spread Christianity, and many people converted. As trials occurred and the Empire lost good leaders, the people took security in Christianity and other religions. Christianity grew during the Roman Empire because Constantine helped create the Edict of Milan, Constantine had imperial favor toward The Church, and there was trade routes to spread Christianity to different areas.
So Europe invaded Africa, took possession of Africa, and divided Africa into colonies of Europe. The period of invasion, lasting some twenty years, was more or less completed by 1900. There followed a longer period, between sixty and ninety years, of direct European rule, called colonial rule. This was a time of profound upheaval for all of Africa’s peoples. It brought irreversible changes” (4).
I. Slavery and the Empire A. Atlantic Trade 1. “Triangular Trade” a. Africa, Europe, America 2. Caused the racism 3. Central to world economy B. Africa and the Slave Trade 1. African elites sold their people to slavery.
There have been various perceptions concerning the history of Africa, and some of these have portrayed Africa in more negative than positive ways. In an attempt to examine the historical aspect of Africa through various lenses, this essay presents an analysis of evidence that have been brought forth towards understanding Africa’s role in world history, as well as reasons and lessons from the negative portrayal of Africa. The history of Africa has been viewed and understood through a variety of lenses in the past few hundred years. To begin with, the origin of the name Africa in itself has drawn a number of controversies that stem from the different perspectives through which the name has been examined.
In The Legacy, Basil Davidson discusses the legacies of colonialism in Africa and gives an insight on modern Africa and the successes and downfalls that it possesses. Moreover, he states that many of the issues seen in modern day Africa are not new and have their roots in the long years of European colonialism that profoundly shaped and continues to shape the continent. Throughout the documentary, various themes regarding postcolonial Africa are mentioned in depth. A few of the themes that Davidson highlights are modernization, ethnicism, corruption, inequality, dictatorship, and neocolonialism.