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Originally Posted by Spunky
Somebody has to take the blame
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And it can't possibly be the Natives can it?
Before the Europeans came to Africa it was mostly like the National Parks they have today. Forest, Jungle and open plains. Mostly tribal, mostly warring amongst each other, look into the history of the Zulus for more, some farming on a small scale and hunter gatherer tribes.
The Europeans built houses like this off the profits from the farms.
Not sure if that one was but many like it were.
Growing crops like tobacco, maize, rice, coffee, bananas and fruits. Plus beef and also horses I believe. Remember Rhodesia
EXPORTED food. When run by the Europeans. There was also natural wealth in the ground, diamonds, gold and other metals.
There is absolutely no reason at all why Africa should be getting Aid. But today it's run by Africans and all they did was carry on as they were before fighting tribal wars with a few at the top being immensely wealthy while the rest suffer. Even in countries that are a success the gap between wealthy and poor is vast.
In India it's the same, a few very rich, some middle class and millions living in poverty, yet it's one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Yes all Empires and great countries have skeletons in their cupboards. Like the Spanish and their slaughter of the native population of S. America. The Spanish were up in arms and tried to invade England because we were stealing the gold they stole from the Aztecs and Incas. The Americans slaughtering American Indians, many many countries profiting from slavery.
The list goes on and still today it happens. Russia with it's Empire, China invading Tibet and still India and Pakistan can't stop fighting over a piece of land that's pretty useless. And is America in Afghanistan to help the people or itself. Add Iraq to that question as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rogueteens
look in the history books and you'll see that america wasn't a big prize to the empire, it was more interested in the east - america was not seen as being worth getting in too much of a spat with the French.
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Most here get their history from the movies they see.
You're spot on. America was not a big piece of the Empire, it was a back water. Africa, India and Hong Kong were all far far more important.