Question

Describe the impact of 'Rinderpest' on people's livelihoods and local economy in Africa in the $1890$s.

Answer 1

Rinderpest refers to the cattle plague in Africa in 1890s. This disease show that how during this era of conquest even a disease affecting cattle reshaped the lives and fortunes of thousands of people. The infected cattle was imported from British Asia into Africa to feed Italian soldiers. The following were the impact of Rinderpest on people's livelihoods and the local economy in Africa:

• It destroyed nearly 90% of the livestock.
  
• It destroyed the livelihood of the Natives.
  
• Mine owners and colonial powers benefited by it as they monopolized what scarce cattle resources remained and Africa ceased to be a free continent.