What if the Industrial Revoltion occured in Africa?

Question

It's for an AP world project and i just wanted to see what you guys think.

Answer 1

If that had have been possible, then I would imagine that Africa would now be similar to Europe economically and developmentally, whilst Europe and USA would be 3rd world countries.
The problem is, it was Britain that took the lead, followed by Europe & USA because they had the necessary natural resources.

Answer 2

There actually was a mini-industrial revolution in Africa. It occurred earlier than the one in Europe, but the ideas were basically the same, use alternative forms of power and use metal in the creation of items of marketable value.

The main problem with Africa was the decimation of labor due to the slave trade at the very time that Europe was going through their industrial revolution. One cannot take a continent in the 1600s and suddenly pull ten to twenty million (yes, million) workers out, most males of working age, and expect their to be no effect.

Some of these slaves went to the New World and established industries based on the knowledge they had brought with them. Remember, the Africans may have been stripped of clothing, family and language, but they brought their minds and talents with them to the New World.

Answer 3

if it had occurred in Africa it would probably been Black Power!!!
instead of White Power

Answer 4

The preconditions weren't in Africa, so it is a pointless hypothesis.