Why is Africa a shithole?

[Xenophobe3691]

Europeans used to be captured and sold as slaves in the slave markets of the Ottoman Empire

Europeans weren't captured and held as slaves. The European subjects would give their kids to them as tribute. Actually it wasn't a bad life for most of them went on to hold high positions in government and ultra patriotic to the Sultan.

You've never heard of Miguel Cervantes?

[Perinquus]

Europeans used to be captured and sold as slaves in the slave markets of the Ottoman Empire

Europeans weren't captured and held as slaves. The European subjects would give their kids to them as tribute. Actually it wasn't a bad life for most of them went on to hold high positions in government and ultra patriotic to the Sultan.

Hardly. That certainly applies to some of them. But then again when, for example, you are sent to the Janissary corps and indoctrinated your whole life your liable to think the way you do because you were made to think that way, not because it's a healthy opinion you formed for yourself after sober reflection.

And there were still plenty of examples of people being captured and sold into slavery. What do you think happened to many of the prisoners the Turks took in their wars?

In the Ottoman Empire, low officials gave away slave girls as gifts, to their superiors, in hope to get promotions or other favors. The governors and other officials on their part, took the most beautiful girls in their provinces as slaves, and gave them to the sultan, to gain his favor. The girls were usually between the ages of 10 and 15.

It was still slavery, and was as degrading to the human condition as slavery always is.

[Metatwaddle]

I think it has a lot of explanations, most of which Duchess has already stated. A lack of river valleys and a frequently unfriendly climate got African civilization off to a late start in the world. It was harder for them to settle down, farm, remain stationery and build cities. Yes, they eventually did that, but they still got off to a slow start.

By the time slave dealers showed up in Africa, I think it may have been too late. They didn't have what we would consider a very advanced civilization. And they didn't have good weapons with which to defend themselves. Once the Europeans came, Africa was pretty much a hellish place. Imperialists abused natives, and when they finally got their colonies out of there, the ruthless power struggles led to the constant corruption and chaos in African government today.