The Location of Christian Missions in Africa

The Long-Term Effects of the Printing Press in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Among them are access to a clean water supply, the ability to import supplies from Europe, the abundance of a fertile soil that could be used to grow crops, and a high altitude with a temperate climate (Johnson 1967). Moreover, mission locations exhibited a form of path-dependence.…”

“…The routes of initial missionary explorers determined which parts of Africa were the best-known to Europeans, as well as the locations of the earliest mission stations from which larger networks of stations were developed. The colonial railway network is another factor that affected mission locations, as well as the slave trade (Johnson 1967, Nunn 2010). …”

“…First, historical and geographical characteristics might have determined mission station location, preventing the comparison between regions close and far from these settlements. Protestant missionaries did choose to locate in geographically favored areas (Johnson 1967, Nunn 2010. Second, Protestant stations invested in different activities such as printing, health, and education.…”

Religious Conversion in Colonial Africa

“…A number of factors played a role in determining a mission's location. Among the most important were access to a clean water supply, the ability to import supplies from Europe, and an abundance of fertile soil that could be used to grow crops (Hildegard Binder Johnson 1967). The locations of missions also exhibited a form of path dependence.…”

Historical Missionary Activity, Schooling, and the Reversal of Fortunes: Evidence from Nigeria

“…Also, Johnson (1967) finds that access to clean water, high altitude with a comfortable climate, and the possibility of establishing contact with Europe for supplies determined the locations of the mission stations within an area. If individuals in states with the above factors also have greater demand for education, the location of mission stations could be statistically endogenous to state-specific characteristics.…”