GGH2601
ASSIGNMENT 1 2025
DUE 25 MARCH 2025
SEMESTER 1 2025
, ASSESSMENT 1
GGH2601
THE AFRICAN CHALLENGE: PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DUE DATE: TUESDAY, 25 MARCH 2025, 11:00 PM
UNIQUE NUMBER: 649301
Question 1
The scramble for Africa has been well documented. Discuss some of the implications of
colonialism for economic and social aspects of development on the
African continent.
The Impact of Colonialism on Economic and Social Development in Africa
A long time ago, European countries took control of many parts of Africa. They divided the land
among themselves without asking the people who lived there. This is called colonialism. It changed
the way people in Africa lived, worked, and interacted with each other. Colonialism affected
Africa’s economy and society in many ways. Even today, we can still see its effects
When European countries took over Africa, they were mostly interested in taking Africa’s natural
resources like gold, diamonds, and crops. They used these resources to make their own countries
richer. African countries were forced to sell their goods to Europe instead of developing their own
businesses and factories (Rodney, 2018).
The European rulers also built roads, railways, and ports, but these were mainly used to send African
resources to Europe, not to help African people. This made Africa dependent on selling raw materials
instead of making finished goods (Ake, 2016). Because of this, many African countries still struggle
to create strong economies today.
Colonialism also changed the way African people lived and governed themselves. Before the
Europeans came, African communities had their own leaders and ways of ruling. But the Europeans
ASSIGNMENT 1 2025
DUE 25 MARCH 2025
SEMESTER 1 2025
, ASSESSMENT 1
GGH2601
THE AFRICAN CHALLENGE: PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DUE DATE: TUESDAY, 25 MARCH 2025, 11:00 PM
UNIQUE NUMBER: 649301
Question 1
The scramble for Africa has been well documented. Discuss some of the implications of
colonialism for economic and social aspects of development on the
African continent.
The Impact of Colonialism on Economic and Social Development in Africa
A long time ago, European countries took control of many parts of Africa. They divided the land
among themselves without asking the people who lived there. This is called colonialism. It changed
the way people in Africa lived, worked, and interacted with each other. Colonialism affected
Africa’s economy and society in many ways. Even today, we can still see its effects
When European countries took over Africa, they were mostly interested in taking Africa’s natural
resources like gold, diamonds, and crops. They used these resources to make their own countries
richer. African countries were forced to sell their goods to Europe instead of developing their own
businesses and factories (Rodney, 2018).
The European rulers also built roads, railways, and ports, but these were mainly used to send African
resources to Europe, not to help African people. This made Africa dependent on selling raw materials
instead of making finished goods (Ake, 2016). Because of this, many African countries still struggle
to create strong economies today.
Colonialism also changed the way African people lived and governed themselves. Before the
Europeans came, African communities had their own leaders and ways of ruling. But the Europeans
