Macbook Pro A1278 not compatible with Cinema Display A1316?

I connect to the Cinema Display through the USB and MiniDisplay port connections. My MBP recognizes the display in the System Report under USB, but nothing is recognized under Display other than the native display, and no images show up on the external cinema display. Ive tried various steps including resetting NVRAM/PRAM and SMC. I've also tried connecting my MBP to other displays (worked fine) and connected a different 2015 MBP to the Cinema Display (worked fine).

The A1278 and A1316 were obviously compatible at some point: does this have to do with running High Sierra on my MBP?

The other strange thing is that under System Report, the MiniDisplay port is not shown under Hardware, but instead there is a Thunderbolt section. This model does not have Thunderbolt but instead has the MiniDisplay port.

Hardware Overview:

  Model Name: MacBook Pro

  Model Identifier: MacBookPro7,1

  Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

  Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

  Number of Processors: 1

  Total Number of Cores: 2

  L2 Cache: 3 MB

  Memory: 8 GB

  Boot ROM Version: 68.0.0.0.0

  SMC Version (system): 1.62f7

  Serial Number (system): 73038Y0QATM

  Hardware UUID: 61A59009-09EF-5C1A-9422-907B88FB69A5

  Sudden Motion Sensor:

  State: Enabled