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Difficulty: MediumHistorical Background and Development of Commerce in Nigeria

Following the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the early nineteenth century, trade along the coastal regions of Nigeria transitioned toward 'legitimate commerce' centered on palm oil export. What was a primary impact of this historical shift on the development of commerce in Nigeria?

  1. A
    It resulted in the immediate conversion of raw material harvesting into large-scale secondary manufacturing occupations across coastal ports.
  2. It reoriented commercial activity toward merchandise trade in agricultural produce, stimulating local production and integration into international trade networks.Answer
  3. C
    It eliminated commercial trading networks by converting market-based transactions into personal direct service occupations.
  4. D
    It restricted commerce strictly to local buying and selling without requiring auxiliary support services like shipping or warehousing.

Answer

The transition to legitimate commerce reoriented commercial activity toward merchandise trade in agricultural produce, stimulating local production and integration into international trade networks.
The shift to legitimate commerce in nineteenth-century Nigeria replaced the trade in human beings with the export of natural agricultural commodities such as palm oil. This stimulated local agricultural harvesting, expanded local trading networks, and integrated the Nigerian economy into global trade.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context of legitimate commerce in 19th-century Nigeria.
After the abolition of the slave trade, British and indigenous merchants turned to trading physical commodities, primarily palm oil and palm kernels from the Niger Delta.
Understanding the nature of legitimate commerce identifies what replaced the trade in human cargo.
2
Evaluate the structural impact on commercial development.
The trade in agricultural produce required local farming, harvesting, bulking, and transportation by indigenous middlemen to coastal ports, expanding market participation and foreign trade links.
This transition built the foundations of Nigeria's modern export economy and expanded commercial networks.

Key Concept

Transition from Slave Trade to Legitimate Commerce in Nigeria
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Historical Background and Development of Commerce in Nigeria