Damage Europe Did To Africa
Africa existed long before Europe had the technology and courage to begin exploring the large continent. When it did, valuable resources were discovered that would change the face of African history forever. Europe needed the resources that Africa possessed. The logical conclusion for the Europeans was to take what they needed. The land was carved up, people subjugated, and Africa became another tool for Europe. The end result would be disastrous for Africa. European colonization would do damage to Africa that would take years to begin to mend with some areas of the continent still feeling the effects into the twenty-first century.
Africa was never ‘unknown’ as many would view the New World across the Atlantic Ocean. Greece and Rome moved through the upper portions of the continent and established their own colonies. During the waning years of the Roman Empire and after the fall, Christianity spread throughout the northern parts of Africa and stretched into the continent. Christian monks and missionaries would be the first ‘explorers’ of the land with no regard to resources aside from the souls to be saved. That changed as technology from Europe advanced, and the seas were no longer daunting to the sailors. The Portuguese were the first to do more than sail around the edges of the large land mass. Their goal was economic and political to reach India. As they made their way south, the Portuguese…
