The historian Howard French proposes a new proposition: Africa’s place in world history is underestimated. That still causes problems today – for Europe.
One of the oldest prefabricated buildings in the world is in Ghana, West Africa. In the race for African gold, Portuguese soldiers were in such a hurry that they shipped ready-made beams and blocks of stone from Portugal to rebuild the Elmina fortress from scratch in 1482 within a few weeks. The castle with its slave dungeon became a notorious symbol of slavery and human trafficking. And she witnesses a competition for raw materials in Africa that started even before the departure to America.
Slavery is more important than the steam engine
In fact, Africa is the New World, argues historian and journalist Howard French in a new book that aims to turn world history upside down. Prosperity in Europe and Africa came at the expense of Africa, mainly on the backs of slaves. Slavery and plantation labor are more fundamental to our economy than technology. What responsibility does this mean for Europe and America?
Source: Krone
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