using my friends essay answer this question Centered on the Rodney reading and the previous lectures, what is your interpretation of Pre-Colonial Africa? How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. by - Walter

T yzhana Hicks 24 September 2023 Intro to Africa Blair Proctor Assignment #2 The pre-colonial period in Africa stands as a crucial chapter in the continent's history , marked by diverse civilizations and dynamic economic systems. W alter Rodney’ s reading How Europe Underdeveloped Africa divulges into the intricacies of what European exploitation can do to a prominent and thriving continent. This reflection explores Africa's significant contribution to European capitalist development during this era, shedding light on its impact on both the economy and beliefs of early capitalist Europe. Long before the era of colonialism, Africa thrived with vibrant economic systems that played a pivotal role in shaping global trade networks. Regions like the Mali Empire and Great Zimbabwe engaged in extensive trade, exchanging goods such as gold, salt, and ivory . The surplus wealth generated from these trade networks contributed to the economic prosperity of African societies. “Items like old sheets, cast-of f uniforms, technologically outdated firearms, and lots of odds and ends found guaranteed markets in Africa. Africans slowly became aware of the possibility of demanding and obtaining better imported goods, and pressure was exerted on the captains of European ships; but the overall range of trade goods which left the European ports of Hambur g, Copenhagen and Liverpool was determined almost exclusively by the pattern of production and consumption within Europe.” The quote from the reading contributes to the idea that although Africa was an important and pivotal part of shaping the global trade network, Europeans were overly glorified culprits that victimized their greatest asset in the trade: Africa.

Contrary to common narratives that depict Africa solely as a recipient of external influence, the pre-colonial period reveals Africa's active role in shaping the global economic landscape. Rodney mentions in his reading that “[w]hat was called international trade was nothing but the extension overseas of European interests. The strategy behind international trade and the production that supported it was firmly in European hands, and specifically , in the hands of the sea-going nations from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.” The trans-Saharan trade routes, for instance, connected W est Africa with the Mediterranean, facilitating the flow of goods and ideas. African resources, particularly gold, became commodities that fueled economic growth in Europe, contributing significantly to the development of early capitalism. The influx of African goods and ideas into Europe during the pre-colonial period had a transformative impact on the continent's economic and cultural landscape. “On the one hand, there were the European countries who decided on the role to be played by the African economy; and on the other hand, Africa formed an extension to the European capitalist market. As far as foreign trade was concerned, Africa was dependent on what Europeans were prepared to buy and sell.” Thus showing how the wealth accumulated through African trade contributed to the emer gence of a mercantile class in Europe, laying the foundation for the transition to capitalism. The cultural exchange fostered a more nuanced understanding of the world, challenging Eurocentric perspectives prevalent at the time. In conclusion, the pre-colonial period in Africa was not merely a precursor to colonial exploitation; it was a dynamic period of time in Africa’ s history that witnessed Africa actively contributing to European capitalist development. Recognizing Africa's pivotal role in the shaping of early capitalism is essential for a comprehensive understanding of global historical dynamics.

The knowledge of this narrative allows for the challenging of conventional narratives that often mar ginalize Africa's agency in shaping its own destiny .