The History Book Club discussion

This is the Ancient African History thread.

"Ancient Africa is one of the oldest civilizations. It is where scientist think people first orginated. At the beginning of the civilization scientists believe that ony 2,000 people lived there. As years went by, eventually the population increased because more and more people began to come to Africa. However, this left the Africans with new forms of technology like fire and stone tools that were used in order for them to survive more effciently.

Ancient Africans mainly ate rice and yams. Before farming the people hunted meat and wild vegetables. Around 6000 B.C. the climate started changing and it was harder to grow crops. They began to eat wheat and barley which were transported from West Asia. They ate porridge, barley soup, and pita bread. They fished for tuna and turned their barley into beer. They also recieved and imported sheep and goats which they herded and eventually used for food. They were great farmers and are responsible for farming cofee, sourghum, and watermelon.

Religion was a big part of ancient African civilizations. Naturally the majority of Africans believed there was one god. He was either the sky god or the sun god. They also believed in an afterlife like Christians.

Although they only believed there was one god they believed in two worlds, the earth and the world of gods. They wanted the gods to give their elders advice for them so they could live a long happy life and eventually go to the world of gods. In 330 A.D. ancient Africa converted to Christianity because of their king.

Then Polytheism triumphed when Akhenaton, a monotheistic worshipper, died. Examples of their polytheistic gods are Isis, Ra, Amen, and several others.

Akhenaton was in many ways considered the best pharaoh of ancient Egyptian times. He was married to Nefereti and taught love, brotherhood, and religion. He lived from 1375 B.C. to 1358 B.C. He was responsible for teaching monotheistic forms of worship.

Ancient Africa is known for their traditons. Their traditions have told the majority of facts we know about Ancient Africa. West Africa had griots. griots are storytellers, historians, and entertainers. They memorize family histories, and tell many old stories. Only a few people have gotten to become griots. A scientist researching Ancient Africa learned the majority of his information from and old griot that talked for two hours straight.

The reason many cities in Ancient Africa were so rich was because of their trade. They traded fold for something they considered more valuable, salt. They used salt as food preservation, body moisture, and food flavor. Trade in west Africa was so successful they became peace makers instead of warriors.

Ancient African government was quite simple. They divided the large empire or kingdoms into districts. Each district had a head leader and in each district were towns which as well had leaders. The elders were usually the leaders. Sometimes government was based on kinship.

Africans began wearing clothing 190,000 years ago. They first wore animal furs and skins, leather, and loincloths. Thousands of years later they started to wear lighter, less sweaty clothing. They took the bark fibers from trees and pounded it. By ponding it, this made the fibers into leather life material which was light and easy, and could easily be sewn together.

Remainder of article:
https://sites.google.com/site/ancient...



This thread is about the following:

Egypt · Nubia · Land of Punt · Axum · Nok · Carthage

Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_...

Please feel free to add books, images pertaining to Ancient African History, and/or urls, etc that pertain to this subject area. No self promotion please.

Bentley, you are so ambitious! I just ran across reference on goodreads to an interesting book that I am going to try to find related to this topic.The Kalenjiin People's Egypt Origin Legend Revisited Was Isis Asiis? A Study in Comparative Religion

This is my husband's ethnic group, so we are curious.

Andrea wrote: "Bentley, you are so ambitious! I just ran across reference on goodreads to an interesting book that I am going to try to find related to this topic.The Kalenjiin People's Egypt Origin Legend..."</i>

History is my passion.

I added the author or editor to that interesting book you posted...

[author:Kipkoeech araap Sambu

Is he Egyptian or Kalenjiin or both?

With a name like that he is most definitely Kalenjin. All Kalenjin boys' names start with the prefix "Kip" or "Ki". My sons names are Kipchumba and Kibor. "Arap" is like "bin" in Arabic and indicates the next word is his father's name. Then his father is probably named Kipsambu.

Thank you very much Andrea for the above information...something I did not know.

Andrea wrote: "With a name like that he is most definitely Kalenjin. All Kalenjin boys' names start with the prefix "Kip" or "Ki". My sons names are Kipchumba and Kibor. "Arap" is like "bin" in Arabic and indi..."

Just the history or story behind names is so interesting. Wow.

Hello
Any good books to recommend about this topic?

David Tuesday Adamo

Nubia: Corridor to Africa (there is no book cover available on goodreads) by William Y. Adams

Steffen Wenig

Also this article:

Agatucci, Cora. "Ancient Africa & African Empires Timeline." The New Crisis, Jan/Feb 2000, pp.40A-40H.

Great ancient African civilizations, in their day, were just as splendid and glorious as any on the face of the earth. An ancient Africa and African empires timeline is presented.

PhD thesis:

Allen, Troy Duane. Ancient Egyptian Kinship: An Afrocentric Case Study. PhD. Thesis, Temple University, 1998.

Ayele Bekerie

Another thesis:

Bell, Lanny David. Interpreters And Egyptianized Nubians In Ancient Egyptian Foreign Policy: Aspects Of The History Of Egypt And Nubia. PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 1976

Yosef Ben-Jochannan

Yosef A. A. Ben-Jochannan

Yosef Ben-Jochannan

Martin Bernal

African Achievements: Leaders, Civilizations and Cultures of Ancient Africa by Lester Brooks (no bookcover available on goodreads)

Great Civilizations of Ancient Africa. by Lester Brooks (no bookcover available on goodreads)

Stanley Mayer Burstein

Graeco-Africana: Studies in the History of Greek Relations With Egypt and Nubia by Stanley Mayer Burstein (no bookcover available on goodreads)

Article:

Byrd, Melanie and Caldwell, Ronald J. "The Hamitic Prophecy And Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign." Consortium on Revolutionary Europe 1750-1850": Proceedings 22: 313-320.

Scholars affiliated with the 1796-1801 French military expedition to Egypt debated the appearance and racial classification of ancient Egyptians.

Essays in Ancient Egyptian Studies by Jacob H. Carruthers (no goodreads bookcover available)

Also article by Carruthers:

_____."Outside Academia: Bernal's Critique Of Black Champions Of Ancient Egypt." Journal of Black Studies 22, No. 4 (June 1992): 459-476

Wayne B. Chandler

Theodore Celenko

Theophile Obenga

Andrew Reid

William Mark Habeeb

Jonathan M. Bloom

Kenny Mann

David O'Connor

David Wengrow

Theodore Celenko

and the book African People in World History (no bookcover available)

Plus some publications not available on goodreads:

Clarke, John Henrik. "Ancient Nigeria And The Western Sudan." Presence Africaine (English ed.), nos. 32-33 (1960): 11-18.

_____. "The Historical Legacy Of Cheikh Anta Diop: His Contributions To A New Concept Of African History." Presence Africaine (1-2): 110-120.

Clarke presents recollections of his contacts with Cheikh Anta Diop (1923-86) as well as an evaluation of the Senegalese historian's contributions to a new concept of African history.

All the above by author: John Henrik Clarke

O.R. Dathorne

O.R. Dathorne

Also article by same author:

Dathorne, O. R. "Africa As Ancestor: Diop As Unifier." Presence Africaine 1989 (1-2): 121-133.

C. A. Diop Claimed That The Ancient Egyptians Were Black And That The Origins Of Hellenic Civilization Were To Be Found In Africa.

Cheikh Anta Diop

Cheikh Anta Diop

The Cultural Unity of Black Africa: The Domains of Patriarchy and of Matriarchy in Classical Antiquity by Cheikh Anta Diop (no goodreads cover available)

Black Folk Here and There: An Essay in History and Anthropology by St. Clair Drake (no goodreads cover available)

The African Background to Medical Science: Essays on African History, Science & Civilizations by Charles S. Finch (no bookcover available on goodreads)

Vivian Verdell Gordon

Hoppla :-)

Thanks a lot ... a lot of reading in perspective.

You are welcome..there are a lot more...but too many books and too little time (smile)

Bentley wrote: "You are welcome..there are a lot more...but too many books and too little time (smile)"

that's always the case.... lol

If you are interested in more modern history, Patrik, let me know. I've done a lot of reading in modern history of East Africa.

Andrea, no problem with your message, but we at your request also set up a World History thread on Africa...possibly for the benefit of the entire group...you may want to post your recommendations there.

Here is the link for that thread:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

In all honesty, we have not seen any posts from you there.

Would love to see any of these recommendations you might have.

Bentley

Oh, thanks, Bentley. I seem to have missed that. I will post some books in the next few days.

Here is a new book just out covering Ancient Egypt which may interest other readers:


by Toby Wilkinson
Publishers blurb:
The story of Ancient Egypt and the extraordinary civilisation that flourished along the banks of the River Nile can seem like a gorgeous pageant studded with exceptional events. Among them are the building of the pyramids, the conquest of Nubia, Akhenaten's religious revolution, the power and beauty of Nefertiti, the life and death of Tutankhamun, the ruthlessness of Ramesses, Alexander the Great's invasion, and Cleopatra's fatal entanglement with Rome which led to the fall of Ptolemaic Egypt. But while three thousand years of pharaonic civilisation have all the ingredients of an epic novel - glittering courts, dynastic intrigues, murky assassinations and epic battles; individual stories of heroism and skulduggery, of triumph and tragedy; and, powerful women and tyrannical kings - the real historical story is even more surprising and far more interesting. The Ancient Egyptians were the first group of people to share a common culture, outlook and identity within a defined geographical territory governed by a single political authority - concepts of nationhood that continue to dominate the planet. As the world's first nation-state, the history of Ancient Egypt is above all the story of the attempt to unite a disparate realm and defend it against hostile forces from within and without. In this magnificent history, Toby Wilkinson combines grand narrative sweep with detailed knowledge of hieroglyphs and the iconography of power, to reveal Ancient Egypt in all its complexity. For the first time we see the relentless propaganda, the cut-throat politics, the brutality and repression that lay behind the appearance of unchanging monarchy as well as the extraordinary architectural and cultural achievements for which it is justly famous.

I just purchased a copy of "Thutmose III" by Richard Gabriel which looks like a very interesting book on a very interesting King.

by Richard A. Gabriel
Publishers blurb:
In the course of his thirty-two-year reign over ancient Egypt, Thutmose III fought an impressive seventeen campaigns. He fought more battles over a longer period of time and experienced more victories than Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar did. Despite Thutmose III’s surprisingly illustrious record, his name does not command the same immediate recognition as these highly visible military leaders.

In Thutmose III, Richard Gabriel deftly brings to life the character and ability of ancient Egypt’s warrior king and sheds light on Thutmose’s key contributions to Egyptian history. Considered the father of the Egyptian navy, Thutmose created the first combat navy in the ancient world and built an enormous shipyard near Memphis to construct troop, horse, and supply transports to support his campaigns in Syria and Iraq. He also reformed the army, establishing a reliable conscript base, creating a professional officer corps, equipping it with modern weapons, and integrating chariotry’s combat arm into new tactical doctrines. Politically, he introduced strategic principles of national security that guided Egyptian diplomatic, commercial, and military policies for half a millennium and created the Egyptian empire.

Through these crowning achievements, Thutmose set into motion events that shaped and influenced the Levant and Egypt for the next four hundred years. His reign can be regarded as a watershed in the military and imperial history of the entire eastern Mediterranean.

That looks like a great book Aussie Rick!

I hope so, I need to fit it into my reading schedule somehow!

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I hope so, I need to fit it into my reading schedule somehow!"

You missed an important adjective. That would be your crowded reading schedule. Right? The joys of reading. There is always something good to dig into.

So true Elizabeth!!!

Here is a new find:

Statue of King Tut's grandfather unearthed in Egypt

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- The upper portion of a limestone likeness of King Tut's grandfather has been unearthed in Luxor, Egyptian officials said.

Investigators found the statue of Amenhotep III while excavating on the site of a large temple on Luxor's west bank, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities announced in a statement Saturday.

"The statue is one of the best new finds in the area because of its expert craftsmanship," the statement said, citing Zahi Hawass, the council's secretary general.

The statue, which is 4 feet 3 inches (130 centimeters) tall and 3 feet 1 inch (95 centimeters) wide, depicts the pharaoh seated on a throne, accompanied by the Theban god Amun. The king wears the double crown of Egypt.

Now experts must dig to find the rest of it.

Amenhotep III, who lived until 1352 BC, was hardly a modest king. Hawass said there is an "overwhelming amount of statuary" depicting the ruler, who was the father of Amenhotep IV, better known as Akhenaten. There may be other statues of him at the site, according to the council's statement.

Amenhotep III's reign was a time of wealth and stability, according to the British Museum. He inherited a great empire and took on many building projects.

Source: CNN

Amenhotep III

by Arielle P. Kozloff

by Joann Fletcher

by Frederic P. Miller

SON OF AMENHOTEP III - KNOWN AS AMENHOTEP IV OR AKHENATEN

by Naguib Mahfouz

Dorothy Porter

by Cyril Aldred

by C.N. Reeves

by Nicholas Reeves

by Donald B. Redford

by Sue H. D'Auria

by Cyril Aldred

by Erik Hornung

SON OF AMENHOTEP III - KNOWN AS AMENHOTEP IV OR AKHENATEN
(continued)

by Molefi Kete Asante

by David P. Silverman

Lisa Manniche

by Donald B. Redford

by William J. Murnane

Domi Montserrat

Susanna Thomas

by Angela P. Thomas

by Frederic P. Miller

Frederic P. Miller

Robert Feather

Bentley wrote: "Nubia: Corridor to Africa (there is no book cover available on goodreads) by William Y. Adams

by Stanley Mayer Burstein (no photo in GR) which you mentioned above and I found very useful in my research.

Additional books from my shelves:

The Kingdom of Kush: The Napatan and Merioitic Empires
by Derek A. Welsby (no photo in GR). From the back: "...illuminates all that is known about this fascinating people and their history and makes significant scholarly contributions to the an ongoing debate concerning Black Africa's role in the cultural development of ancient Egypt."

Isis in the Ancient World
by R.E. Witt (no photo) From the back: "Worship of the Egyptian goddess Isis dates as far back as 2500 B.C. and extended at least untile th fifth centruy A.D. throughout the Roman world. The importance of her cult is attested to in Apuleius's Golden Ass, and evidence of its infulence has been found in places as far apart as Afghanistan and Portugal, the Black Sea and northern England. The first study to document the extent and complexity of the cult's influence on Graeco-Roman and early Christian culture..."

Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt

by Joyce A. Tyldesley (no photo). From the back: "Joyce Tyldesley draws upon archaeological, historical and ethnographical evidence to piece together a vivid picture of daily life in Egypt--marriage and the home, work and play, grooming, religion--all viewed from the femal perspective. She has an engaging eye for incidental detail and draws fascinating parallels and contrasts between the ancient and our modern world."

I have more and will add them as time allows.

The Adams book won awards and was published out of Princeton University - very well received at the time - out of print - but you still can get copies for research. It was published in 1977 if that helps. It is considered a classic.

The author received Sudan's highest medals - from the Sudan Times:

http://www.sudantribune.com/The-Corri...

Faith,

Wow, that is a real mess when you tried to add the cover for Ancient African Civilizations! I wonder what happened.

Would you mind doing a quick experiment to see if we can get the cover? Edit your post and go to the title link. In the square brackets, change "book" to "bookcover". (If this doesn't make sense, let me know.)

It looks like whatever was messed up before works now:
by Stanley Burstein

I tried changing the "book" to "bookcover" but it still didn't work; moved things around, copied and pasted...still a mess. The only thing that worked is putting the title link first, then the cover link. If I take the title link out, the cover link converts to the mess. ???????

Definitely a weird situation, Faith. Hopefully that doesn't happen again! Having the title link before the bookcover link is fine. Thanks for fixing it.

Thanks for helping the assisting moderator in trying to get to the bottom of this post.

This was a message from Minda:

This sounds like a great book. I have always loved the bog people. This book is available at my college, when I go back (taking a year off for medical reasons) I will be sure to check it out. I read The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead recently and I really enjoyed the section about the bog people. It is amazing how well preserved the bodies are, though more conservation methods need to be developed to ensure the preservation of these wonderful specimens survive another 2,000 years.

I have added the book above using the proper format to help out Minda:

by Heather Pringle (no author's photo available)

I have added it to this thread because even though these finds may be in various parts of the world; they were using the ancient Egyptian techniques.

Hi Rosie:

I'm happy you are posting here and I see you introduced yourself. Go back to my welcome and take a look at how we do citations, so you get more familiar with it: title cover, author photo, and author link.

Also, you have a edit button, so feel free to use it when make a typo :-). Questions? Just ask one of us moderators, we are here to guide you.

Stacy Schiff

Hi Rosie,
I also liked Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra. In some ways, I was surprised that she could write a full length biography about Cleopatra when so little is known about her. She had to make a lot of conjectures, but she based these on a thorough investigation of the culture and the times. I thought it was an excellent book. I don't know why, but I have always been interested in ancient history.

Schiff has also written an interesting biography of Vera, writer Vladimir Nabokov's wife, muse, and assistant. Talk about a close marriage!

The citations take some practice. I make a lot of use of the preview key, and if I still don't get it I go back in and edit my post.
Stacy Schiff

Cartharge Must Be Destroyed

by Richard Miles

Synopsis:

An epic history of a doomed civilization and a lost empire.

The devastating struggle to the death between the Carthaginians and the Romans was one of the defining dramas of the ancient world. In an epic series of land and sea battles, both sides came close to victory before the Carthaginians finally succumbed and their capital city, history, and culture were almost utterly erased.

Drawing on a wealth of new archaeological research, Richard Miles vividly brings to life this lost empire-from its origins among the Phoenician settlements of Lebanon to its apotheosis as the greatest seapower in the Mediterranean. And at the heart of the history of Carthage lies the extraordinary figure of Hannibal-the scourge of Rome and one of the greatest military leaders, but a man who also unwittingly led his people to catastrophe.

The first full-scale history of Carthage in decades, Carthage Must Be Destroyed reintroduces modern readers to the larger-than-life historical players and the ancient glory of this almost forgotten civilization.

Some great adds Kathy.

Kathy wrote: "The Mystery of the Land of Punt Unravelled

by Ahmed Ibrahim Awale (no photo)

Synopsis:

This book contains convincing evidence and ..."

This looks very interesting. Thanks for the post Kathy!

Hello: I am new to goodreads, and the History Group. I was educated in classical studies, but it is not until some fifteen years ago that I became interested in the study of hieroglyphs, ancient texts of Egypt, and the archaic beginnings of a civilisation which shares a great deal with Berber (Amazigh) indigenous cultures of North Africa (language, beliefs, customs...) - My interest is still vivid. One of the most interesting books I have read recently on the ancient history of Africa is by an Algerian anthropologist named Malika Rachid, the author of "Les Premiers Berberes" (Edisud, 2001.)