IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL POLICY (JHSP )

E-ISSN 2545-5729
P-ISSN 2695 2416
VOL. 10 NO. 6 2024
DOI: 10.56201/jhsp.v10.no6.2024.pg77.97

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Impact of Colonialism and Western Education on Esan Trade and Markets, 1900-1960

Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme, PhD, Abenabe, Green Kevwe, Ekpotuatin Charles Ariye, PhD

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Abstract

This paper is to examine the impact of trade and market activities in Colonial Esan society. It depicts how the encouragement of the British government created the economic condition for trade and market interaction. However, before the British government and economic associates got involved in Esan trade and market, it would be suffice to say that the Esan agricultural and industrial systems was already been operated far above the subsistence level as all sections of the economy were already generating surpluses. Already in the period Esan trading and markets was already integral parts of the people’s indigenous economy. Though the British Commercial Policy turned Esan into a semi large market for sale of European products, Esan’s involvement in commerce was however, limited to export. Internal marketing was not well encouraged, and the internal markets, which emerged, were usually supply and distribution centers of European goods. This is why the paper is out to make it clear that the economic and commercial policies of the colonial authorities in Esan were not aimed at promoting the well-being of the people. Whatever Esan made were just unavoidable. The main sources for this study will be primary and secondary sources. The primary sources constitute documents, oral traditions, and field notes. The secondary source is a work of historical reconstruction based on the interpretation of primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include scholarly journal article, encyclopedia, dictionaries, interpretation of a diary, biographies, newspapers, published dissertations etc.

keywords:

impact, colonialism, Western Education, Esan Trade and Market

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