V. FRANCE: SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY, SIMILAR CYCLES OF CHANGE

 

NON-MECHANIZED FARMING, BASE OF PRE-COLONIAL AFRICAN AND PRE-INDUSTRIAL FRENCH SOCIETIES 

It brings the same kind of political system, warfare and conflict between interests that have become obsolete and new forces that challenge them.  

Les très riches heures du duc de Berry / zoom

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Traditional farmers, Ghana

Summary

• Economic growth leads to conflict between interests that have become obsolete and new forces. The latter win. Stronger authority appears at the same time, which both protects and dominates them. 

After showing how growth trickled down from the Sahara with the fall of the Songhay Empire (in 1591), we turned to Djimini, a distant region on the forest fringe. There, a fight between Muslim traders and and the animist chief ends by accepting an infinitely divisible currency, which lets ordinary people engage in commerce. A chieftaincy strong enough to control the coming change appears at the same time. 

In France, "wars of religion" pit Catholics, whose religious practices limit profit, against budding Protestant capitalists, who do not have them. They end with a more muscular kingship that lets the Protestants continue, and dominate them at the same time.

• The old barriers to growth dismantled, the economy grows. So does authority.

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 son and successor of the Bokhala chief brutally checks them. They burn him alive in his hut. 

In France the civil wars end (in 1594) and the Protestants are officially tolerated (in 1598). But the stronger Bourbon monarchy controls them. Monuments and a new urban design are signs of its power. The economy expands.

• Conflict returns. 

Djimini animists and petty traders resist the long-distance merchants and commercial producers until a legendary slave-raider subdues them. He sets up a state rooted in slave-based agriculture for the growing markets.

In France, the Protestants are tolerated until their activities menace Catholics' economic predominance. Many manage to leave, but those who remain are forced to convert. Their conversions are superficial but since they are obliged to accept Catholic practices that are barriers to profit, no one cares.

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 take wing. 

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These pages have suggested 

another view of African history.

Now they do the same for France.

• Growth breaks loose 

• Economic growth and the "Wars of Religion"

• Absolute Monarchy takes the reins

• Louis XIV, the ultimate anti-capitalist

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Next,
5.1.

 Growth breaks loose