Introduction To African Civilizations

This modern classic is organized as follows: Introductory Survey Survey of Pre-Historic Man Ethiopia at the Crossroads The Hoare-Laval Plan Arab-Moorish Civilization and Culture South Africa West Africa Recent Tendencies Brief Statement of Courses in Schools Today Groundwork for Teachers That Word “Negro” — (negro) Early Traces in the Ancient East Summary of Native States Liberia and Sierra Leone International Relations Africans in Latin America Africans in Oceania African Art Africans in the United States Summary and Conclusion General Bibliography

Facsimile reprint. Originally published: 1937.

Timely, relevant, and illuminating, this essential book by respected cultural historian, teacher, and author John G. Jackson sheds long overdue light on standard Eurocentric and distorting approaches to the history of Africa from early African civilizations to Africa’s significance in world history. With brilliantly objective scholarship, respected historian and author John G. Jackson reexamines the outdated, racist, and Westernized history of Africa that is still taught in schools, and presents one infinitely more rich, colorful, varied—and truthful. Challenging the standard dehumanizing and exploitive approaches to African history, from the dawn of prehistory to the resurgent Africa of today--including the portrayal of Africans as “savages” who ultimately benefitted from European enslavement with its “blessings of Christian civilization”—Jackson confronts the parochial historian, devastates the theoretical pretensions of white supremacists, and expands intellectual horizons. Accessible and informed, fascinating and candid, Introduction to African Civilizations is an important historical guide that will enhance antiracist teachings for the general reader and the scholar alike. Introduction by John Henrik Clarke, pioneer of African Studies and author of Christopher Columbus and the African Holocaust Foreword by Runoko Rashidi, historian, activist, and author of Introduction to the Study of African Classical Civilizations

This second volume of Introduction to the History of African Civilization examines Africa's history in the controversial twentieth century. It focuses on the methods of domination that were employed by colonial powers, and the new methods of domination, which were invented and employed by Western nations in the post-colonial period. While the book covers the partition of Africa, the nature and impact of colonial rule and the post- colonial situation in Africa, it is not simply a history text, for it investigates matters usually avoided in historical studies of twentieth century Africa, including the psychological impact of colonialism on the emergent middle class. Also explored is the impact of the IMF and World Bank on African economies in the post-colonial era.

This edition of African Civilizations, first published in 2001, re-examines the physical evidence for developing social complexity in tropical Africa.

Introduction to the History of African Civilization explores the major issues dominating African Civilization from the earliest recorded period to the eve of colonial conquest of the continent. C. Magbaily Fyle begins with a discussion of the myths and prejudices underlying most analyses of African issues, and moves into a discussion of the origin of humanity; the similarities between the classical Nile valley civilizations of Egypt, Nubia, Kush, and Axum; and the spread of Islam through African societies. He portrays the systems of precolonial government and society, including the role of women in governance, as well as traditional trade and agricultural patterns. Fyle provides a new perspective on the Islamic Jihads, shifting focus from Sokoto and Macina to the Senegambia and the Upper Guinea region, and a revised interpretation of the Atlantic slave trade, which includes the importance of African objectors to this process. He also discusses important cultural features such as the traditional African food, architecture, and typical structures of towns.

This book was conceived as a study guide and text book for the student of African civilizations globally. It is broken down into four sections: Nile Valley Civilizations (ancient Egypt) in which a short history of Ramses, the royal dynasties, the geography, and a wide-ranging, selected bibliography of Kemet (ancient Egypt) is offered; The African Presence in Asia in which the author analyses the work of Cheikh Anta Diop on Asia, adding significantly to our knowledge of the area, a selected bibliography, The Dalits (untouchables) of India; the most startling information in this book is the author's evidence of The African Presence in Prehistoric America which goes back to 30,000 years ago. This essay is based on the innovative archaeology of Harold Sterling Gladwin and is accomplished with careful attention to detail. Here the author also examines the prehistorical presence of Africans in Britain, based on the work of MacRitchie.