NON-MECHANIZED AGRICULTURE IS THE FOUNDATION OF PRE-COLONIAL AFRICAN AND PRE-INDUSTRIAL FRENCH SOCIETIES
Les très riches heures du duc de Berry, June / zoom
Economic growth brings cycles of opposition between seekers of gain and authorities who can no longer control them. The victory of the new forces brings an expansion of trade and production, and stronger authority to master them at the same time.
- In Djimini, a fight between Muslim traders and animist farmers ends with an economically transformative innovation (acceptance of an infinitely divisible currency) and a stronger chieftaincy to prevent further change.
- In France, "wars of religion" pit Catholics whose customs limit profit against budding Protestant capitalists who challenge them. They end with a more muscular kingship that lets the Protestants continue their practices but dominates them.
Le massacre de la Saint-Bartholemy (detail) by François Dubois, toward 1580 / zoom
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Growth that more robust authority limits continues in both societies:
- In Djimini the new market of Bokhola prospers, others spring up, more powerful traders arrive and a new class of animist commercial producers appears. The Bokhala chief keeps them in check.
- En France trade and production expand but the stronger Bourbon monarchy controls them. Monuments and a new urban design are signs of its power.
Conflict returns.
- Djimini animists and petty traders resist the new long-distance merchants and commercial producers. A conqueror subdues them and establishes a state based on slave-based agriculture for the growing markets.
Senufo horseman
- In France, the Bourbons tolerate Protestants and their activities until they menace Catholics' economic predominance. Their forced conversions are superficial but force their acceptance of traditional barriers to profit.
The cycles end in Djimini when the European conquerors liberate the labor force, and in France when the Revolutions of 1789-1795 and 1830 suppress nobles' control of the State and let capitalism fly.
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These pages have suggested
another view of African history.
Now they do the same for France.
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