Changes

Europeans also built elementary and secondary schools based on European curricula.  Families that wanted to enter the modern sphere sent enrolled their children, and a handful went on to university in Britain and France.  

Europeans also built elementary and secondary schools based on European curricula.  Families that wanted to enter the modern sphere sent enrolled their children, and a handful went on to university in Britain and France.  

European national boundaries were a new concept for much of Africa which was accustomed to small tribal or village living and didn't understand how many such tribes and villages, which often warred with each other, could be put together under one national banner.  This forced nationhood apart from African cultural groups and village life has continued to be a source of strife in African nations to this day.

European national boundaries were a new [[concept]] for much of Africa which was accustomed to small tribal or village living and didn't understand how many such tribes and villages, which often warred with each other, could be put together under one national banner.  This forced nationhood apart from African cultural groups and village life has continued to be a source of strife in African nations to this day.

 

===1900-1960===

===1900-1960===

In 1900 Africa comprised many rural societies with a few towns and little infrastructure. From 1900 to 1960 Africa underwent a sustained period of unprecedented modernization, almost revolutionary in its medium and long-term effects. Urbanization created cities, as it led to mass migration and slow, if patchy, industrialization. Throughout the continent, towns expanded swiftly and new urban centers grew in the half century following the imposition of colonial rule in the 1890s and early years of the twentieth century. Towns in key locations such as [[Abidjan]], [[Port Harcourt]], [[Lusaka]] and [[Nairobi]] grew to be cities, typically founded as ports, harbors, administrative and mining centers, and/or as transport—especially railway—focal points. For example, in the colonial Gold Coast ([[Ghana]]) the western town of Takoradi became the colony's chief railway town. Farther down the coast, the growth of the capital city, [[Accra]], was swift: its population increased from about 18,000 in 1901 to 135,000 in 1951.

In 1900 Africa comprised many rural societies with a few towns and little infrastructure. From 1900 to 1960 Africa underwent a sustained period of unprecedented modernization, almost revolutionary in its medium and long-term effects. Urbanization created cities, as it led to mass migration and slow, if patchy, industrialization. Throughout the continent, towns expanded swiftly and new urban centers grew in the half century following the imposition of colonial rule in the 1890s and early years of the twentieth century. Towns in key locations such as [[Abidjan]], [[Port Harcourt]], [[Lusaka]] and [[Nairobi]] grew to be cities, typically founded as ports, harbors, administrative and mining centers, and/or as transport—especially railway—focal points. For example, in the colonial Gold Coast ([[Ghana]]) the western town of Takoradi became the colony's chief railway town. Farther down the coast, the growth of the capital city, [[Accra]], was swift: its population increased from about 18,000 in 1901 to 135,000 in 1951.