Observation

Many candidates could not interpret this question rightly. They went ahead to explain what the Europeans introduced e.g. trade, religion and education. The candidates’ performance was poor. The relevant points which ought to have been discussed are listed below.


(i) The coastal states were militarily weak
(ii) They lacked defensive barriers such as deserts, mountains etc. which could have been immense advantage in a war of resistance.
(iii) They did not have the resources to finance a war.
(iv) The coastal states lacked unity.
(v) The absence of clearly defined roles of succession to the throne.
(vi) The chiefs also signed treaties with the Europeans which were not clear to them.
(vii) The Europeans possessed superior weapons.
(viii) Most of the states lacked central leadership or government to unite the people against the Europeans.