Things Fall Apart + Colonization of Africa

In the novel, Things Fall Apart, the effects of colonialism were extremely evident in the Igbo society.  As the white Englanders moved into the native's land, their cultural values, religion, and family life changed.  While upset by the colonialism of their society, the they were incapable of doing anything to reverse the changes...

As part of the Industrial Revolution, by 1840 businessmen from Europe had established small trading posts along the coast of Africa, but they seldom moved inland, preferring to stay near the sea.  Large parts of the continent were essentially uninhabitable for Europeans because of their high mortality rates from tropical diseases.

Later industrialization brought rapid advancements in transportation and communication, especially in the forms of steamships, railways and telegraphs.  Medical advances, such as the development of quinine for malaria, also played an important role in making the tropics more accessible for Europeans.

In 1884, the Berlin Conference was a starting point for partitioning the Dark Continent.  During what became known as the "Scramble for Africa," seven European powers divided, invaded, and occupied most of the land over the next 30 thirty years.  At the time, Europe was experiencing a depression.  Africa had an abundance of raw materials, such as oil, ivory, rubber, wood, and gum, that could be used for profit.  Nearly 90% of Africa was under European control by the onset of World War I.

The European countries were able to colonize rapidly because there were rivalries between African leaders.  These kings and chiefs were competing with each other to be the richest and most powerful within their tribes.  Natural disasters also played a big role.  In 1895, a serious drought reached many regions in Africa, and hardly any crops were produced.  The food shortage which followed caused the death of many people and animals.  In addition to this was a plague of locusts,  and a cattle plague broke out during the 1890’s, killing cattle, sheep, and goats.  This led to even more deaths of animals and people, and due to their physical and mental weakness, the Africans were unable to fight against European powers.

Also, an outbreak of new diseases made an appearance during the late 1890’s, one of the first being smallpox.  The Europeans had developed immunity to these diseases due to past experiences, but the indigenous African population had no immunity or resistance to these diseases and thus they weakened the African population.  A large number of the African population thus died out, or became too weak to fight back.

Our spine read for this unit is Things Fall Apart

Find the full unit in the Advanced High School Literature bundle!

Includes six unit studies covering a variety of topics presented in more mature literature selections.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

 

Product sample: The Things They Carried & the Vietnam War

Units include:

· Oliver Twist & the Industrial Revolution

· Things Fall Apart & the Colonization of Africa

· The Chosen & the Zionist Movement

· Five People You Meet in Heaven & Human Impact

· The Things they Carried & the Vietnam War

· Crime and Punishment & Free Will vs Determinism