Europeans and Americans often referred to Africa as the “Dark Continent” simply because they knew little about it. Imagine that you are venturing into Africa for the first time in 1500. What might you find there that would be familiar to you? What would be strange or particularly hard to understand? Then, reverse the exercise. Imagine you are an African encountering Europeans or Indigenous people for the first time around 1500. What about these people would you find familiar? What would reflect the common human experience?
If I were venturing into Africa for the first time in 1500, as a European or an American, there are a few things that I might find familiar. Firstly, I would likely notice the presence of animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras, as these were known from descriptions and stories brought back by explorers. I might also encounter various types of crops and agriculture similar to what I was accustomed to, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables.
However, there would also be many things that I would find strange or particularly hard to understand. The diversity of African cultures, languages, and traditions would likely be overwhelming. The societal structures, religious beliefs, and systems of governance would differ greatly from what I was familiar with. The level of technological advancement might also be quite different, with certain African civilizations like the Mali Empire being more advanced than my own understanding.
Now, imagining that I am an African encountering Europeans or Indigenous people for the first time in 1500, there are several aspects that I might find familiar. I would likely recognize the common human experience of emotions, social interactions, and familial bonds. Just like in African societies, these newcomers would have their own languages, traditions, and cultural practices that would reflect the uniqueness of their communities.
However, there would also be much that would astonish and confuse me. The technological advancements brought by the Europeans, such as sailing ships, firearms, and metal tools, would be unlike anything I had encountered before. The religious beliefs and practices of the Europeans would also differ from my own, with Christianity being the dominant faith. The concept of colonization and the subjugation of peoples might be particularly hard to understand, as it went against the communal ways of African societies.
In both scenarios, the encounters between Europeans and Africans in the 1500s would have been marked by a mixture of familiarity and strangeness, as two vastly different worlds collided. These encounters would shape the course of history and have long-lasting impacts on the continent of Africa.