Wikipedia+Project

Hey Everybody, Here's the info. for our Wikipedia project.

The book is [|Things Fall Apart]by Chinua Achebe.

Research assignments: Anna Nero: Literary elements (Symbols, motifs, tragic hero, themes) Bill: Scope and Reach Amy: Gender Roles Melissa: Culture (Language, Superstitions, etc.) Anna S: Historical and Political

Happy Hunting!

Hey Everybody, This is what I have come up with for my part on the Historical and Political background. I tried to tie it to the novel. Let me know what you think.

Prior to British colonization, the Igbo people as featured in //Things Fall Apart//, lived in a patriarchal collective political system. Decisions were not made by a chief or by any individual but were rather decided by a counsel of male elders. Religious leaders were also called upon to settle debates reflecting the cultural focus of the Igbo people. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore and colonize Nigeria. Though the Portuguese are not mentioned by Achebe, the remaining influence of the Portuguese can be seen in many Nigerian surnames. The British entered Nigerian first through trade and then established The Royal Niger Colony in 1886. The success of the colony led to Nigeria becoming a British protectorate in 1901. The arrival of the British slowly began to deteriorate the traditional society. The British government would intervene in tribal disputes rather than allowing the Igbo to settle issues in a traditional manner. The frustration caused by these shifts in power is illustrated by the struggle of the protagonist Okonkwo in the second half of the novel //Things Fall Apart//.