Subdesenvolvimento Infligido: Análise da Transformação do Território Urbano Africano

Abstract

This thesis tries to identify and comprehend the causes that conditioned the development of the African Continent. In the search for an understanding of the processes and the phenomena that lead Africa to the present, so called, underdeveloped state, this study delves into the urban transformations that took place during the History of this continent's territory. This work starts by defining the concepts of development and underdevelopment. Then, it looks at the ancient African cities and their growth, from their origin up to the fifteenth century; from there, it analysis the urban transformations that occurred in the pre-colonial period, between the fifteenth century (marked by the start of the European Atlantic expeditions) and mid nineteenth century, the starting point of the colonial period. The last two chapters refer to colonialism and independence, studying the urban changes that concern each period. Also corresponding to each period, this study formulates relations in order to evaluate, by comparison to other continents, the development state of Africa throughout time. It proves that, once started, the underdevelopment process grows worse and uncontrolled, explaining this state as a result of a transcontinental economical relation that contributes to the development of a part through the exploitation of the other. This dissertation concludes by making a brief description of Africa's present situation, regarding the global transformations that occurred in the last twenty years, which seem to keep conditioning an autonomous and meaningful development of the African Continent.