Impact on the People of Nigeria by Muslims, French and British Essay

Africans subscribe to been migrating done out the continent, including Nigeria, long before there was til now written record. Because of this, there has always been an extensive amount of inter-mingling betwixt discordant ethnic groups, making it difficult to actually trace back who came from where. by from this amalgamation, there has been a huge impact on the heaps of Nigeria by away(p) forces. In particular, three major groups that had a major impact were Muslim merchants from across the Sahara, British slave vocationrs and eventual colonizers, and the French and British Christian missionaries. The combination of these three groups has had both an economic and cultural impact on Nigeria that is ease present today. External penetration of Nigeria started as early as the 9th century AD when Muslim merchants from western Sudan, Maghreb, Tripolitania and Egypt started traveling across the Sahara with camel caravans in search of trade. Over the course of the next six centurie s, Islam became accepted astray in the north, especially among the Hausa and Fulani, and not only as a religion. It everywherely imposed a central government, segregated the sexes, influenced language and script, and established a hierarchical class system that was not there beforehand. Islam did not dissipate south because of the dense tropical forest that divides Nigeria into north and south. This also caused the cardinal regions to develop at different rates because while the south was still alien to Europeans, the north was expanding culturally and economically because of its deep involvement with the trans-Sahara trade routes. The good deals of the south remained untouched by Europeans until the 1470s when Portuguese explorers, under the frenzy and guidance of Henry the Navigator, arrived and traded spirits, cloth, guns and gunpowder for slaves. The Portuguese did not really have much of a cultural effect on the indigenous muckle (besides the slowly diminishing populati on). This is because they rarely traveled farther than the marge, if they even leftfield the ships. Eventually the British ships were dropping anchor along Nigerias coast after Britain realized the extent of the profits the Portuguese were making and what they could disembowel from slavery. By 1712 they had established a slave monopoly along the west coast. Chiefs and African slave traders brought slaves to shipside in exchange for Eu... ...t of Nigerians resorted to migration when fighting didnt work.It is ironic how when 1 domain tries to take over another in a impellent manner, it is met by some form of resistance but if the country introduces itself through trade it is accepted with open arms. The Muslims did not intend to rule over anyone. They were there to make deals and trade goods. Muslim conversion was gradual and unbidden and spanned over six centuries. There is little evidence about wars between Muslims and Nigerians. Also, many Nigerians are proud to be part of the Muslim finale in the north, even if they are from the south, because of its historical tradition, distinctive architecture, useful language, Islamic faith and because it is an alternative to white European culture. The British were the ones that forcefully took peoples land and family members. They were accepted at first, but they betrayed the trust of the people and exploited them for Britains gain for over 400 years. Many educated Nigerians today feel that if it werent for the slave trade and colonialism, they would be backing in a much more modern and progressive country at this time. It is no wonder that they resent the British.