FREE ESSAY ON THIRD WORLD HISTORY

THIRD WORLD HISTORY

When someone mentions the state of Africa the first thoughts that enter your mind is
poverty, poor government structure, and hungry people. But that has not always been the
case. This was a rich, resourceful and beautiful country. The picture of pre-colonial
Africa is much different than our ideals of it today. We see it as a land stricken with
poverty. The colonists saw it as a land with unlimited resources full of people that did
not take, what they thought was full advantage of it's treasures. Europeans used
agricultural and religious differences to create a gulf between them and the Africans.
Using such differences Europe colonized Africa for the ever growing European market. The
depletion of the African resources forced the people into a food crises. The only hope
exists is the organization from within the rural class. Such organizations are fighting
for basic human rights and others are coming together to make labor sharing possible. 
Pre-colonial Africa was full of resourceful and time honored farmers that knew the land
that their ancestors have given them. They had the ability to know exactly which seeds
and what soil to use under various planting conditions to produce not just enough food to
keep their tribes alive, but produce a substantial surplus in event of a natural caused
or political drought. Bill Rau states " The ability of African people to feed themselves
was based on a intimate knowledge of the resources needed for agricultural production. (p
22) " He is trying to say that these people knew their land. A land that has it's
uncertainty. 
Weather that has an ability to wipe out tribes, and unpredictable political structure
were all hurdles that these gifted farmers has to endure. As Europe was going through an
industrial boom, their markets started to expand. Capitalists saw that it became harder
maintain the profit at the current level. Outside resources and raw materials that were
used for production were needed. Africa was the answer. Bill Rau writes " The increasing
demand and competition for both resources and markets among Europe's capitalist economies
led them to carve out territories in Africa that offered the prospect of vast mineral and
agricultural wealth.(p 29)" What Bill Rau is saying is that, for the capitalist to
survive he must maintain a high profit. In order for him to achieve that goal he must
expand his resource market at all cost. This is one of the first contributing factors to
the colonization of Africa. Colonialism was the tool for the European market demand being
met.
Once the decision to colonize Africa was made, the colonist had to establish an
explanation for the colonial takeover of Africa. Two main differences between the
cultures were found and exploited. The first is the production of food. Africa was an
agricultural country, depending on every person to accomplish its share of the work.
Weather it may be making tools to picking crops, every person was a contributing factor
towards the production of valuable resources. Europe on the other hand was a industrial
society depending on division of labor as a production of their needs. "Labor was central
to production, which was overwhelmingly agricultural, while in Europe labor became
subordinate to machines and the value of labor and machines was redirected to the owners
of capital(p 29)" Rau states. He is stating that every African had an important role in
the production of resources for the well-being of the community. Europe on the other hand
was geared on private profit. 
The second difference between the cultures is their religious views. Europeans felt that
they were blessed with god giving them Christianity. Africans prayed to pagan gods. This
created a big gap between the two cultures. Bill Rau stated that " The economic forces of
imperialism were integrated with perceived moral issues - saving African 'pagans' from
their 'idolatry' for Christianity (p 30)" Christians felt that they were so right about
everything, including religion that must not just teach, but force their ideology on the
Africans. The fact that the African people used old methods of production, and different
form of religion, doesn't mean that they are wrong. These are the reasons that the
colonist used for the takeover of Africa. 
With cultural differences established, Europe began to colonize Africa. Africans did not
welcome them with open arms, they fought strong and hard, but Europe's organization and
technology prevailed in the end. Africans were no longer able to make enough agricultural
gain to feed its people, because of the past and current resources that exited the
country. Rau points out " A world economy existed at least from the sixteenth century
that closely bound Africa and her people to external economic forces.(p 32-33)"
what he means here.
With famine and hunger problems getting worse, the people began to resist development
plans and policies by organizing. Organizing is the beginning of a resistance against
famine and hunger problems. Bill Rau states " Labour organizing is spreading as a way for
workers to protect and expand their rights.(p 169)" Bill Rau is trying to say that
workers can strengthen their demands by uniting together. Whether one is organizing to
negotiate a shorter work day, or forming a group to obtain contracts for specialized farm
task, the key is uniting in numbers. 
A strong example of a labour cooperation, is a group called GARY. People in the group are
taught on the job mechanical skills in construction and maintenance of well in drought
villages. 
In conclusion, imperialism was the factor in European need for the control of rich
African resources. The ever expanding capitalistic market needed resources for its high
demand markets. Resources and materials that were used for production needed to increase.
Africa was a perfect opportunity for satisfying that need. Religious and technological
differences were used as explanations for the colonizing of Africa. The extraction of
valuable resources placed the African people into hunger crisis. But these people are not
willing to stand on the sidelines and do nothing. When the people organized during the
colonization of Africa, to fight courageously against the invaders. Now they must do the
same to rid their country of food, famine and political problems. During difficult
hardships people's actions often take a positive approach toward their problems. With the
desire to change, and the will to fight people not only live on, but create a new social
order.