Dominance of the Eurocentric Understanding of Development
Overview
This essay examines how Western powers shaped Africa's development through institutions like schools, hospitals, and churches, arguing that development in Africa has been understood primarily through a Eurocentric lens. The paper discusses how Western civilization was introduced to Africa and the role of missionaries and colonial powers in establishing modern systems, while acknowledging that Africa had pre-existing educational and social structures before European intervention.
What this essay covers
- Introduction: Overview of Western influence on African civilization and development
- Development mechanisms: Schools, education systems, and literacy introduced by Western powers
- Institutional development: Churches, Christianity, and religious education in African civilization
- Healthcare and technology: Introduction of hospitals and scientific medicine through Western influence
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Dominance of The Eurocentric Understanding of Development
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Dominance of The Eurocentric Understanding of Development
Introduction
The civilization of Africa was not something that was planned for, but it still went on. Western powers are the ones that led to the civilization of Africa. However, it should be noted that Africa's civilization started long ago before Western powers came to Africa. Missionaries were the first group of people to take education to Africa. However, several factors were learned (Diakhate et al., 2017). An important thing worth noting is that Africa still had an education system that was going on. Europeans stepped into America to develop themselves by acquiring essential resources from the continent. However, they always brought civilization into the continent that went on to help many Africans.
Developments in Africa took time before they were attained. Initially, the growth in Africa can be categorized as one that relied on ancient thinking ways. There was no technology in Africa as people relied on old ways of doing things. A good case is where Africans used firewood to prepare food; On the other hand, Africans used horns to pass information from one point to another (Englebert, 2000). The passing of communication was through a messenger. However, with the coming of Western powers, civilization was done differently. Western powers came with modern ways of doing things. There was the introduction of education through the building of schools, hospitals, and churches.
The building of schools is one way.