How Has Africa Changed Over Time

Looking back in history, countries around the world go through tremendous changes that influence the future. Change is inevitable and countries have the ability to transform in order to stay competitive. Countries have the power to change for their own self benefit, and on the other hand, countries can change due to other dominating regions. Africa is a country that has fallen victim to both instances. Early on, Africa was a country that had new technology for farming and overall viewed as a powerful country. It is easy to say things can turn out different in any given situation, but at the same time, change is necessary for progress. In the past, Africa has been shaped by various countries in Europe which forever altered their outcome. Through stories like Things Fall Apart and other countries’ actions and involvement, Africa ended up with an outcome that most likely could not be changed.
It started out as the Portuguese people traveling to West Africa’s Coast in search of gold. Afterward, Africans began to be captured in warring raids, kidnapped, and taken to the coast to be shipped by African slave traders. At the start of the 16th century, about 200,00 Africans were transported to Europe and various islands. 1619 was the time over a century and a half after the Portuguese began trading slaves on the African coast. Forced labor began when ships brought Africans to America to work at plantations and colonies. Over 54,00 trips were made for human trade sent to America. After years of neglect, Africa endure a great deal of damage and lost their independence. It is difficult to say if things could have gone differently. The Europeans that took over at the time, were more powerful that West Africa. After the trade links were established, other countries involved themselves and began to settle and trade. Trade within West Africa continued for 300 years, and remained forever