HISTORY LESSON

The Sahelian kingdoms were a series of centralized kingdoms or empires that were centered on the Sahel, the area of grasslands south of the Sahara, from the 8th century to the 19th. The wealth of the states came from controlling the trade routes across the desert. 

Their power came from having large pack animals like camels and horses that were fast enough to keep a large empire under central control and were also useful in warfare and trade.

There were integrated kingdoms and empires, with substantial cities and significant towns; and less organised territories with large scattered populations. 

People practised agriculture, stock-rearing, hunting, fishing, and craftsmanship such as metalworking, textiles and ceramics. They navigated along rivers and across lakes, traded over short and long distances, and used their own currencies.

The three most powerful and famous empires were Ghana, Mali and Songhai which collectively dominated the Trans Saharan Trade for over nine centuries. The Sahel also saw more extensive use of armor than anywhere else in Sub Saharan Africa.

They had infantry but their military strength came from their cavalry who wore full body gambesons, leather jerkins and chainmail. They also had similar armors for their horses.

There was an attempt to experiment with plate armor like the ones used by the Kanem Bornu Empire.But the hot climate made it ineffective for it to be fully adopted. 

#Afrique #Black #Africa

HISTORY LESSON

Before 1913, Blacks owned the majority of land in South Africa. Black  farmers were outproducind their White counterparts. Black South Africans were so wealthy that they  were even sending economic aid to White workers in England. All that changed in 1913 when Whites purposefully engineered Black poverty to turn Black people into a cheap labor force for mining companies & to allow White farmers who couldn't compete to take over agriculture in South Africa. Whites can't compete on a level playing field. They have to steal land & labor. This narrative that Whites discovered an uninhabited land & built it from scratch is revisionist bs. All the land & wealth of South Africa was stolen from the Black population.

Ancient symbols - the Bull’s Tail Whip

The bull tail whip, or fly-whisk, carried by leaders in ancient times, particularly in African cultures, symbolized authority, power, and protection. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs and high-ranking officials were often depicted with fly-whisks, which were used not only as practical tools to swat away flies but also as ceremonial symbols of their leadership and divine right to rule. The bull tail, associated with strength and fertility, further emphasized the leader's connection to powerful deities and their role as the protector and provider for their people. This practice highlighted the leader's elevated status and their responsibility to maintain order and prosperity.

In this picture, the bull tail whips hanging from King Den’s waist.

You’re looking at 8 miles and 12,000 years of Amazonian art

Hidden in the Amazon rainforest is an 8-mile art canvas, covering over 12,600 years of ice age rock carvings.

The amazingly well-preserved work of art depicts mastodonts, giant sloths and other extinct animals.

The rocks captures information about thousands of men and animals who have not roamed the continent for at least 12,000 years.

The discovery was made by a team of archaeologists in the Chiribiquete National Park in 2019, but it was kept secret for months to allow for the area to be fully secured.

Experts believe that the vastness of painting is such that it will take several generations to study them all.

The discovery was significant not only because of its age but also due to the well-preserved state of the artwork, which offers valuable insights into the prehistoric life and environment of the Amazon. It indeed took some time for the findings to be publicly announced, partly to ensure the protection and preservation of the site. The vastness and richness of the paintings suggest that it will take several generations of study to fully understand their context and significance.

World History, and the history of the accomplishments of mankind is far more interesting than anything you have been told.

There are probably lots of “tourist attractions” in Africa too that we haven’t found yet, which will create jobs. Never look down on yourself.

HISTORY LESSON

This is what the French said about SAMORY TOURE (specifically what one of the French officers said about Samory Toure). “It is not an exaggeration to say he showed himself superior to all negro chiefs. He was the one who gave proof of those characteristics of a chief: the strategist, a politician, an outstanding leader of men, possessing audacity, energy, the ability to follow up an advantage, and plan in advance, and above all a tenancity which could not be destroyed.”

Al-Mami (meaning “the leader”) Samory Toure was an outstanding West African ruler, who used alliances, supply chain management, and local weapons manufacturing to fight the French invasion, coming out from the French bases in Senegal. He got the 300-400 blacksmiths to create copies of European firearms. He is therefore unique for attempting to create a gun-manufacturing factory.

Samory Toure (c. 1828 – June 2, 1900), also known as Samori Toure, Samory Touré, or Almamy Samore Lafiya Toure, was a Mandinka Muslim cleric, military strategist, and founder of the Wassoulou Empire, an Islamic empire that was stretched across present-day north and eastern Guinea, north-eastern Sierra Leone, southern Mali, northern Côte d'Ivoire and part of southern Burkina Faso. A deeply religious Muslim of the Maliki school of religious jurisprudence of Sunni Islam, he organized his empire and justified its expansion with Islamic principles.

The local enemies of the Wassoulou Empire, the Kong Empire, aligned themselves with France against the Wassoulou Empire in the Mandingo Wars. The Kong Empire was founded by Seku Wattara in 1710 and destroyed by Samory Toure in 1898. Samory Toure’s decision to only seek Muslim allies alienated him from regions which were followers of African religions who saw him as an aggressor.

Praise Poem (Oriki) Oyo

“…Oyo omo Alaafin

Ojo pa sekere mode omo atiba

O b’olowo wipe k’o gb’owo

O si n ba iwofa wipe k’o ju eru sile

Ase k’o le baa di’ja

Ko le baa di aapon

K’omo oba le ri je nibe

Oyo l’o gbin agbado oran

S’ehinkule elehinkule

Elehinkule ko gbodo yaa je

Beeni ko si gbodo tu u danu

Omo iku ti’ku ko le pa

Omo arun t’arun ko le gbe de

Omo ofo, t’ofo ko le se….”

Translation:

Oyo, descendant of the Alaafin

Rain must not beat the sekere

Child of Atiba

You urge the creditor to demand his pay

Yet you also urge the hireling debtor to repudiate his debt

So that conflict may ensue

For the benefit of the prince/princess

Oyo plants the ‘corn of trouble’

In another man’s backyard

That one must not harvest it

Neither must he weed it off

Child of death who cannot die

Child of pestilence who cannot be tied down by sickness

Child of calamity whom calamity cannot afflict….!

(Note: sekere is a musical instrument made with beads or cowries strung around a large gourd)

HISTORY LESSON

Changes in Place Names over time: Ancient Ghana, Ancient Ethiopia v Modern Ghana and Modern Ethiopia, Ancient Africa v. modern Africa, Ancient Libya v. modern Libya

The historical usage of the name "Ethiopia" has evolved significantly over time. For much of ancient history, the term "Ethiopia" (from the Greek "Aethiopia") was broadly used by Greek and later Roman geographers to refer to the lands south of Egypt. This term did not correspond to the modern-day country of Ethiopia but rather to a vast region that encompassed parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, including areas of modern-day Sudan and beyond.

Similarly, the term "Sudan" (derived from the Arabic "Bilad al-Sudan," meaning "Land of the Blacks") historically referred to the large Sahel region stretching across Africa just below the Sahara Desert. This vast region includes modern-day countries such as Sudan, Mali, Niger, and Chad.

The historical Ethiopia, often referred to in various classical texts, included what we know today as parts of Nubia and regions south of Egypt. However, the modern political entity we now call Ethiopia has its roots in the ancient Kingdom of Aksum, which was a major trading empire from about the 1st to the 7th centuries AD and controlled territory in what are now Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The name Abyssinia was used to refer to the region and the empire in what is now Ethiopia for many centuries, particularly during the medieval period. The transition to the official use of "Ethiopia" occurred in the 20th century. The name Ethiopia itself, however, was used long before the official change in the mid-20th century, deeply rooted in the country's own historical and cultural identity, as well as in ancient texts and traditions.

In summary, while the name "Ethiopia" has been used in various contexts to describe different regions over millennia, the modern nation-state of Ethiopia has its origins in the ancient and medieval kingdoms that occupied the highlands of the Horn of Africa. The official change from Abyssinia to Ethiopia in the 20th century reflects a reclaiming and formalizing of a name with deep historical significance for the region.

The girl in this picture is a genius from Egypt in Diaspora

The American company Heinemann chose the story of the genius “Yasmine Yahya Mostafa,” the daughter of the village of Manazala in Damietta Governorate, Egypt to write a book and distribute a million copies to schools and universities so that students can learn from her and try to be like her.

Yasmine won first place in the world at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair out of 1,700 contestants from more than 78 countries, and the committee that was judging included members who received the Nobel Prize.

In appreciation of this achievement, NASA named a group of asteroids named (MOUSTAFA 31910) after the Yasmine family.

Yasmine is only 23 years old, and despite that, she is invited to lecture at major international conferences. She is currently working on more than one scientific project, and a bright future is expected for her. 

#Africa #Egypt

Valdiodio N'diaye the patriot who confronted the general of Gaulle

In the history of Africa, we often mention Sékou Touré's "No" to De Gaulle in 1958, but we also forget to mention the stage in Senegal where De Gaulle was maltreated by Valdiodio Ndiaye and the "banner bearers".

Master Valdiodio N'diaye or (Waldiodio Ndiaye) (1923-1984) is a Senegalese politician, several times minister, also mayor of Kaolack, his hometown. He distinguishes himself in the eyes of Africans when he confronted General de Gaulle in 1958. He calls for immediate independence, through a speech that is dated.

Then his fate turned upside down in 1962 when, under the presidency of Léopold Sédar Senghor, he is accused of conspiracy against the state, alongside Mamadou Dia. He then spends twelve years in prison, cut off from his family. His wife and children will be deported without care from Senegal to France.

Even today, this dramatic episode of Senegal's history remains a sensitive topic and some continue to wonder about the meaning of this elimination in a country that was born that was then a model of democracy.

After his release in 1974, Valdiodio N'diaye resumes his career as a lawyer in Dakar.

In 1981, he participated in the founding of the People's Democratic Movement (MDP) with Mamadou Dia, but left it in 1983 and joined the Socialist Party (PS). During the 1983 Senegalese presidential election, he is supporting the outgoing president Abdou Diouf.

He died the following year, on May 5, 1984 at the General Hospital in Dakar; he is buried in Kaolack, his hometown, where he had been mayor for a long time.

La QuintEssence

Top 10 Most Populated African Countries 2024

(1). Nigeria. 🇳🇬 -223 804 632

(2). Ethiopia  🇪🇹 -126 527 060

(3). Egypt.       🇾🇪 -112 717 598

(4). Dr Congo. 🇨🇩 -102 262 808

(5). Tanzania. 🇹🇿 -63 436 106

(6). South A. 🇿🇦 -60 414 495

(7). Kenya.   🇰🇪 -55 100 586

(8). Sudan.   🇸🇩 -48 109 006

(9). Uganda. 🇺🇬 -48 105 334

(10). Algeria  🇩🇿 -45 606 480

#Africa

BOTSWANA

Botswana has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years, from ancient civilizations to modern times. Here's a brief overview:

Pre-Colonial Era (1000 BC - 1885 AD):

- Ancient tribes like the San and Khoikhoi inhabited the region.

- Bantu-speaking peoples arrived around 500 AD.

- Powerful kingdoms like the Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe empires emerged.

- Tswana tribes migrated to the area in the 14th century.

Colonial Era (1885 - 1966):

- British colonization began in 1885.

- Bechuanaland Protectorate was established in 1885.

- Economic development was limited, and the region remained a British protectorate.

Independence and Modern Era (1966 - present):

- Botswana gained independence on September 30, 1966.

- Seretse Khama became the first president.

- Diamond discoveries in 1970s fueled economic growth.

- Democratic institutions and stability characterized the country's development.

- Challenges like HIV/AIDS and economic diversification emerged.

Recent Developments:

- Botswana has maintained its stable democracy and strong economy.

- The country continues to face challenges like inequality and unemployment.

- Tourism and conservation efforts have grown in importance.

This brief history highlights the key events and periods in Botswana's past.

Here's an extension of Botswana's history until 2023:

Independence and Modern Era (1966 - 1990):

- Seretse Khama's leadership (1966-1980) and his successor, Ketumile Masire (1980-1998), oversaw significant economic growth and development.

- Botswana became a diamond-rich country, with the Orapa mine opening in 1972 and the Jwaneng mine in 1982.

- The country maintained its democratic institutions and stability.

1990s - 2000s:

- Festus Mogae succeeded Masire in 1998 and continued economic growth and development.

- HIV/AIDS became a major challenge, with Botswana having one of the highest prevalence rates globally.

- The government responded with comprehensive programs and antiretroviral treatment.

2010s:

- Ian Khama, Seretse Khama's son, became president in 2008 and served until 2018.

- Economic diversification efforts continued, with a focus on tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

- Botswana maintained its reputation for democratic stability and good governance.

2020s:

- Mokgweetsi Masisi succeeded Ian Khama in 2018 and has continued to lead the country.

- Botswana has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts.

- The country has continued to prioritize conservation and tourism, with a focus on high-end, low-impact tourism.

Recent Developments (2020-2023):

- Botswana has maintained its stable democracy and strong economy.

- The country has continued to face challenges like inequality and unemployment.

- Efforts to diversify the economy and promote private sector growth have intensified.

- Botswana has also prioritized digital transformation and innovation.

Please note that this is a condensed version, and there may be additional details or nuances to explore. Let me know if you'd like me to expand on specific aspects!

5 Facts About Rwanda 🇷🇼

(1). Kigali Rwanda is cleanest City in Africa.

(2). Rwanda has most beautiful ladies in Africa.

(3). Rwanda is among peaceful countries in Africa.

(4). Rwanda is only African country that experienced genocide.

(5). Rwandan use English, kinyarwanda, french and Swahili.

#Africa #Rwanda

HISTORY LESSON

In 1974, Bulgarian archaeologists unearthed a groundbreaking discovery near Varna, Bulgaria: a sprawling Copper Age necropolis dating back to the 5th millennium BC. Among its treasures were the world's oldest known gold artifacts, shedding light on the advanced metallurgical capabilities of the pioneering Varna culture.

This find not only predates Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations but also challenges our understanding of early European technological achievements. It suggests a level of craftsmanship and metallurgical knowledge previously unrecognized, sparking new inquiries into the development of ancient civilizations. The ten gold rings must be symbolic if we consider the penchant for these ancients in applying symbolism to everything they do. The ten commandments, the ten rules of Islam, the ten trials of Abraham; no doubt where the Romans got the ingredients from to cook the Christian religion that was later copied by Muslim religion;

Sumerian mythology👉🤨

PROGRESS REPORT IN KENYA

Dear GenZ and the Kenyan youth in general,

Revolution is a process. And it cannot be limited to change of Political leadership. It could also just be about a change in Political organization. A change in methods of operation can also be revolutionary. YOU achieved a revolutionary goal on 25th June 2024.A change in the conventional way of doing things is a major revolutionary achievement.

But that achievement aside, our most important challenge ahead is to sustain this momentum. Democracy is not just about getting the right people into office. Even right people get hungry. And sometimes lose their moral compasses. The most important feature of democracy is the appropriation of sovereign power by the people. We achieved that on 25th June. Now we need to.sustain the pressure. Occupants of public office must be reminded at all times that they are servants of the people. Not the bosses. And please don't leave the Counties out. Because Counties are today's epicentres of corruption and primitive accumulation of wealth. With tax payers money getting invested in moribund non income generating enterprises that will eventually rot away the way Mobutu's palaces degerated.

Sustaining the pressure is important because old habits die hard. Corruption does have very strong teeth. It bites back. We need to press the advantage we have right now,sustain the onslaught on bad leadership practices and keep leadership on its toes so that the corrupt get afraid of taking up government appointments. . Stick to measurable, achievable goals. Because if you introduce the impossible, your struggles to achieve will expose your weaknesses which they will then use to divide you for easy manageability.

Never ever give thought to conversations about dialogue. Because History has proven that dialogue in this country simply denotes creation of extra seats at the feeding trough. That option should not be part of the revolution. The onus is on you young people to remain anonymous and keep the crooks on their toes until 2027. That too is revolutionary.

And in the meantime, you are the largest voting block in the country today. Take time and Register to vote in 2027 in large numbers because it's only with your numbers and participation that we can make the loudest statement to political aspirants in 2027.

**********

And even though today I will miss fumbling gaffes of the farmer from Meru, I will not relax until the new Cabinet is named. I'd hate to be happy today just to have to deal with the eventuality of that crass illiterate braggart from the hills as a CS!!! 

By the way Solomon M Omutsani

Please help us understand why the only man left standing is the occupier of the Unconstitutional office?

Source: Delmic Media

ROSETTA DOUGLASS

Rosetta Douglass-Sprague (1839 June 24 - 1906) was a prominent African American teacher and activist. She was a founding member of the National Association for Colored Women. Her father was Frederick Douglass.

Rosetta was born to Anna Murray Douglass and Frederick Douglass in 1839, in Bedford, Massachusetts. When she was five, she moved with her parents to Lynn, Massachusetts. Rosetta was a critical thinker like her father, but struggled against the demands of gender roles during her time. When she was six, she stayed with Abigail and Lydia Mott, from Albany, New York. Abigail taught her to read and write, and Lydia taught her to sew. At eleven, she assisted her father in making and packaging his newspaper. On December 24, 1863, she married Nathan Sprague. Her husband was an ex-slave and poorly educated, and struggled to find his footing and a job. She did not support her father's interracial marriage after her mother's death. She had seven children, and many grandchildren.

In 1845, the Rochester Board of Education closed public schools to black students. Frederick Douglass sent Rosetta to a private school rather than send her to an all-black school that Rochester set up for black students. She eventually was tutored from age 2 to 7. In 1848, Rosetta was admitted into the Seward Seminary in Rochester, New York. Rosetta was segregated from the white students while she was there, and her father spoke out against this in his newspaper. She also attended Oberlin College’s Young Ladies Preparatory and New Jersey’s Salem Normal School.

Douglass worked as a teacher. She eventually became primarily a homemaker and wife. She wrote the paper My Mother as I Recall Her in 1900, as well as the paper What Role is the Educated Negro Woman to Play in the Uplifting of Her Race?

Douglass worked along with her father, and had a keen sense of social justice issues. She advised her father against accepting the presidency of the Freedman’s Bank. She went on to become a founding member of the National Association for Colored Women.

MAMIE GRIFFIN

Mamie Griffin, who worked as a cook, posed with one of her books. (John Johnson / Courtesy Douglas Keister / NMAAHC, SI)

Lost and Found Again: Photos of African-Americans on the Plains, Nebraska

Douglas Keister, bought a box of glass negatives that featured portraits of the city’s small African-American population from the 1910s and ’20s, an era from which few other photos survived. As Keister and Zimmer scrutinized the portraits, they began to see something else emerge: an untold story of what historians call the new negro movement. Following World War I, African-American writers, musicians, artists and academics across the country sought to promote confidence, dignity and self-expression—a movement that would blossom into the Harlem Renaissance. Johnson’s portraits, they realized, were part of the same intellectual current. His subjects were formally posed and dressed in their best, and they often held books to show that they were educated. “Up until then, many photos of African-Americans showed the plight of the poor,” Keister says. “These photos are elevating. They’re ennobling".

Ancient Egypt: Inventions and Discoveries

Government and Economy:

* Community banking models – Grain as currency

* Police – Fourth Dynasty evidence

* Postal system – Pharaohs' decrees couriers

* Law – Concept of Ma'at

* Complex segregation of duties - From various Royal Court records.

Warfare:

* Military organization – Old Kingdom units

* Military scribe – Battle recording

* Catapult – Found at Buhen fortress

* Draw bridge – Buhen fortress feature

* Battlements – World's oldest battlements

* Arrowslit – Middle Kingdom forts

* Battering rams – Depicted in tomb

* Siege towers – First Intermediate Period

* Naval ram – Amenhotep I's reign

* Grappling hook – Bronze Age use

* Dagger – Copper or bronze

* Police Dogs – Used by Egyptians

* Encryption – Tomb of Khnumhotep II

* The phalanx - The phalanx was a military formation first used by ancient Egyptians and Asiatic armies, later adopted by the Greeks, characterized by heavily armed infantry soldiers (hoplites) arranged in tightly packed rows. Each soldier's shield protected both themselves and their neighbor, creating a formidable defensive and offensive unit.

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry:

* Diversion dam – Sadd el-Kafara Dam

* Noria – Fourth Century B.C.

* Beekeeping – Recorded around 2600 B.C.

* Horse stable – Pi-Ramesses stables

* Zoo – Hierakonpolis discovery

* Olive cultivation – Egyptian origins

* Ox drawn plough – 2000 B.C. use.

Transport:

* Hulls – Built since 3000 B.C.

* Sail – Predynastic art depictions

* Harbor – Wadi al-Jarf discovery

* Masts – Bipod mast used

* Steering oar – Predecessor to rudder

* Paved road – Near Faiyum discovery

* Rail – Lake Moeris Quarry

Metals, Elements and Materials:

* Mercury – Earliest use 1500 B.C.

* Natron – Used in mummification

* Turquoise – First Dynasty mines

* Wattle and daub – Merimde culture

* Lime mortar – Used in pyramids

* Emerald – New Kingdom mines

* Amethyst – First Egyptian use

* Malachite – Mined since 4000 B.C.

* Electrum – Old Kingdom use.

Medicine:

* Meninges – Discovered in Egypt

* Cerebrospinal fluid – Early knowledge

* Paralysis – Documented symptoms

* Urinary incontinence – Ebers Papyrus

* Anatomy – Detailed in papyri

* Circulatory system – Ebers Papyrus

* Cataract surgery – Fifth Dynasty depiction

* Cancer – Edwin Smith Papyrus

* Diabetes – Ebers Papyrus recommendation

* Dracunculiasis – Treatment described

* Crutch – Used in ancient Egypt

* Hysteria – Recorded in papyri

* Hematuria – Known Bilharzia symptom

* Colorectal surgery – Chester Beatty. Papyrus

Inventions:

* Poultice – Ancient medical practice

* Splint – Used for fractures

* Bandage – Adhesive and honey use

* Prosthesis – Wooden toe evidence

* Intramedullary rod – Found in mummy

* Cauterization – Described in papyrus

* Toothpaste – Used since 5000 B.C.

* Breath mint – Ancient Egyptian invention

* Tampon – Papyrus Ebers reference.

Innovations:

* Gynaecology – Kahun Papyrus treatments

* Pregnancy test – Urine and grain method

* Birth control – Honey and acacia

* Rhinoplasty – Edwin Smith Papyrus

* Surgical suture – Found in mummies

* Ophthalmology – Ebers Papyrus section.

Mathematics:

* Numeral system – Ivory labels evidence

* Binary – Rhind Papyrus method

* Fraction – Egyptian fractions use

* Quadratic equation – Berlin Papyrus

* Exponentiation – Powers of two

* Regula falsi – False position technique

* Square root – Inverse proportion method

* 0 – Symbol in accounting texts

* Mathematical symbols – Hieroglyphic signs

* Pi – Pyramid measurements

* Golden number – Used in designs

* Arithmetic progression – Rhind Papyrus

* Geometric mean – Rhind Papyrus problem

* Conversion of units – Rhind Papyrus

* Seked – Proportional slope measure

* Trigonometry – Pyramid construction use

* Red auxiliary number – Arithmetic aids.

Areas and Volumes:

* Area of Triangle – Rhind Papyrus problem

* Area of Trapezoid – Rhind Papyrus problem

* Surface area of Sphere – Moscow Papyrus

* Volume of Cylinder – Rhind Papyrus

* Volume of Prism – Rhind Papyrus problem

* Volume of Pyramid – Rhind Papyrus problem

* Volume of Frustum – Moscow Papyrus.

Measurement:

* System of measurement – Early dynastic period

* Length – Recorded in Palermo stone

* Curve measurement – Step Pyramid diagram

Engineering Inventions or Discoveries by Ancient Egyptians (prior to 334 BC):

* Pyramid construction techniques - Massive stone blocks precisely placed.

* Obelisk quarrying and transportation - Monolithic stones erected vertically.

* Papyrus-based writing material - Thin paper-like writing surfaces.

* Water clock (clepsydra) - Time measurement using water flow.

* Shaduf (irrigation device) - Manual water-lifting mechanism.

* Copper piping - Early plumbing systems for water.

* Complex stone cutting - Precision cutting of hard stones.

* Arch bridges - Curved structure spanning obstacles.

* Solar calendars - Solar-based timekeeping systems.

* Stone masonry tools - Tools for shaping and placing stones.

* Mummification techniques - Preservation of human bodies.

* Dental drills - Early tools for dental procedures.

* Lighthouse at Pharos - Guiding structures for navigation.

* Construction ramps - Ramps used in building pyramids.

* Construction art - such as Cliff face and wall face artwork

Areas of Philosophy Pioneered by Ancient Egyptians (prior to 334 BC):

* Maat (justice, truth, harmony) - Central moral and ethical concept.

* Concept of the afterlife - Detailed beliefs on life after death.

* The concept of reincarnation.

* Cosmology - Understanding the universe's structure.

* Divine kingship - Kings as gods on earth.

* Ethics and morality - Guidelines for righteous living.

* Human soul's nature - Components like Ka and Ba.

* Mythology - Creation stories and gods' roles.

* Hieroglyphic writing - Symbolic representation of ideas.

* Medicine and healing - Holistic approach to health.

* Sacred geometry - Mystical significance of shapes.

* Astrology and astronomy - Study of stars and their influence, applying the motion of stars to concept of fate, governance and societal order.

* Spiritual purification - Rituals for soul cleansing.

* Political philosophy - Governance and social order.

* Philosophy of art - Symbolism in art and architecture.

THE ZODIAC AND ASTRONOMY KNOWLEDGE

“The zodiac and astronomy itself were born .. over 14,000 years ago. The Greeks were scientific children compared to the Egyptians, whose knowledge and wisdom, underlay all of Western science and mathematics.” French Scholar Charles Dupuis

Charles François Dupuis (26 October 1742 – 29 September 1809) was a French savant, a professor (from 1766) of rhetoric at the Collège de Lisieux, Paris, who studied for the law in his spare time and was received as avocat in 1770. He also ventured into the field of mathematics and served on the committee that developed the French Republican Calendar.

History of the World timeline that includes African history

- 350,000 years ago: Emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa

- 300,000 years ago: Early humans develop advanced tools and long distance trade

- 198,000 years ago: Earliest beds discovered in Africa

- 150,000 years ago: Development of early human language

- 130,000 years ago: Seafaring and trade in Crete

- 100,000 years ago: Jewelry and adornment in Africa

- 91,000 years ago: Advanced fishing techniques in Katanda

- 78,000 years ago: Ceremonial burials hint afterlife beliefs

- 75,000 years ago: Ochre engravings in Blombos Cave

- 61,000 years ago: Bows and arrows in Sibudu

- 60,000 years ago: Early written symbols in Diepkloof

- 41,000 years ago: Mining activities in Eswatini commence

- 35,000 years ago: Lunar calendar using Lebombo bone

- 25,000-8,000 years ago: Sacred cows domesticated in Africa

- 14,000-5,000 years ago: Gobero Kiffian culture flourishes

- 13,000-9,000 years ago: Qadan culture in North Africa (Paleolithic Egypt)

- 10,000-9,000 years ago: Ounjougou culture in Mali emerges

- 9,700-4,000 years ago: Nabta Playa constructs astronomical structures and calendars (Neolithic Egypt)

- 9,000 years ago: Astronomy guides early human societies

- 7,000 years ago: Trepanation and circumcision practices begin

- 6,000 years ago: Early forms of religion emerge

- 6,000-4,000 BCE Decentralised Egypt (Dakhleh Oasis, Bashendi culture, Merimde culture, Faiyum Oasis)

- 4,000-2,600 BCE Competing city-states, Predynastic Egypt (Naqada I, II, and III) and Thinite Confederation 

- 4,000-2,600 BCE In China, the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins played pivotal roles, witnessing cultures like Yangshao, Beixin, Majiayao, Longshan, Dawenkou, and Hongshan. These cultures showcased early farming practices, pottery, and social developments.

- 3,500-3,200 BCE: Diplomacy practiced in Ta Seti

- 3,500 BCE: Qustul incense burner depicts boats

- c. 3100 BCE: Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt

- 3,000 BCE -1 AD: Bantu expansion from West and Central Africa

- 3000 BCE -1 AD: Neolithic Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

- 2,500-1,500 BCE Kingdom of Kerma

- 2,600-334 BCE Dynastic Egypt (Old kingdom to Late Period)

- c. 2500 BCE: Construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza

- c. 2,300-1,800 BCE: Iron Age Begins in the Southeast Nigeria, Cameroon, and Central African Republic

- 4,400 years ago: Loom weaving begins in Africa

- Circa 2200 BCE: Introduction of wheeled vehicles by the Afanasevo culture.

- 4,000 years ago: Domestication of donkeys in Sudan; spreads worldwide across Afro-Eurasia appearing in the book of Genesis and impact transportation and communication across several cultures.

- c. 1600-1100 BCE: Rise of the Mycenaean Civilization

- 1500-500 BCE: Early Israelite and Judean (Yehudi) states emerge from Egypt (according Josephus, the Torah, Tacitus, Diodorus Siculus, and Philo of Alexandria)

- 1500-500 BCE: Nok Civilisation

- 1500-500 BCE: Daima Civilisation

- c. 1200-900 BCE: Iron Age Begins in the Near East

- Circa 1000 BCE: Turkic tribes of Central Asia develop significant Bronze Age monuments, including deer stones and kurgans.

- c. 776 BCE: First Olympic Games in Ancient Greece

- 6th century BCE Zoroastrianism and Buddhism founded

- The Achaemenid Empire ruled from approximately 550 to 330 BCE.

- c. 509 BCE: Establishment of the Roman Republic

- c. 332 BCE: Alexander the Great Conquers Egypt

- c. 209 BCE: Formation of the Iron Age Xiongnu Empire, establishing pastoral nomadism.

- c. 221 BCE: Qin Dynasty Unifies China

- c. 27 BCE: Augustus Becomes First Roman Emperor

- 0-40AD Birth of Christ and ministry for three years

- 1st-5th centuries: African Church Fathers' significant impact

- 1st century to 9th century: Aksum Empire in East Africa

- 1st-12th centuries: Swahili states expand trading links with India, China, Persian Gulf and Arabia attracting merchants.

- 2nd century AD: 1st African Roman emperor Septimius Severus and 1st African Pope

- c. 313 CE: Edict of Milan Legalizes Christianity

- c. 476 CE: Fall of the Western Roman Empire

- 700-1600 CE: Ghana Empire thrives in trade

- c. 622 CE: Muhammad's Hijra to Medina

- 8th century: Islamic expansion across North Africa, and start of Arabic slave trade in 7 million Africans and 2 million Europeans (including mainly Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Greeks, Portuguese, Irish, Scandinavians, Russians, and Georgians)

- 711 AD - 1492: Moorish Rule of Spain and Portugal

- c. 800 CE: Charlemagne Crowned Emperor of the Romans

- 10th - 13th centuries AD: Agaw/Zagwe Dynasty destroyed the Aksumite Empire and built the rock-cut churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia

900 BCE - 1850 AD: Precolonial Africa's 2,000 states and societies (During the Middle Ages, Islam spread west from Arabia to Egypt, crossing the Maghreb and the Sahel. Some notable pre-colonial states and societies in Africa include the Ajuran Empire, Bachwezi Empire, D'mt, Adal Sultanate, Alodia, Aro theocracy, Dagbon Kingdom, Warsangali Sultanate, Buganda Kingdom, Kingdom of Nri, Nok culture, Mali Empire, Bono State, Songhai Empire, Benin Empire, the Oromo confederacy, Oyo Empire, Kingdom of Lunda (Punu-yaka), Ashanti Empire, Ghana Empire, Mossi Kingdoms, Mutapa Empire, Kingdom of Mapungubwe, Kingdom of Sine, Kingdom of Sennar, Kingdom of Saloum, Kingdom of Baol, Kingdom of Cayor, Kingdom of Zimbabwe, Kingdom of Kongo, Empire of Kaabu, Empire of Kanem-Bornu, Kingdom of Ile Ife, Kwararafa confederacy, Tiv confederacy, Ancient Carthage, Numidia, Mauretania, and the Solomonic Dynasty)

c. 1206 CE: Genghis Khan Unifies Mongol Tribes

c. 1250-1350: Mongol Empire Expands Across Eurasia

- 1218-1886 AD: Kingdom of Warsangali thrives

- 1200 Olofin Ooni of Ife Oduduwa unites Ile Ife

- 13th - 15th century: Mali Empire rises in power

- 1324 CE: Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca

- 14th century: Mogadishu becomes a trading hub

- 15th century: Songhai Empire reaches its height

- Medieval period: Coptic manuscripts document early Christianity

1454 - 1865 AD: Transatlantic Slave Trade in 12 million - 15 million Africans

1492 - 1800 Theft of 42.5 million square kilometres in the Americas and Caribbean; and the death of 55 million native Americans due to mass-murder and diseases (“Discovery of the New World”)

1500-1914 Colonization of Asia, the Pacific and Africa including the deaths of 50 million people (across India, Indonesia, Indochina [today known as Vietnam], the Congo Free State claiming 10 million - 20 million lives, and other regions)

- 1517: Martin Luther's 95 Theses Spark Protestant Reformation

1600- Present: Asante Kingdom Founded in Kumasi.*

- 1614: Arrival of the Jesuits in Japan

- 1618-1648: Thirty Years' War in Europe

- 1776: American Declaration of Independence Signed

- 1789: French Revolution Begins with Storming of Bastille

- 1807-1834: Abolition of slave trade in 1807 and slavery in 1834 in British territories

- 1861-1865: American Civil War Fought

- 1884: Western Europe hold a conference in Berlin to plan an invasion, murder millions of people, and steal the resources of Africa

- 1914-1918: World War I Occurs (40 million people die)

- 1936-1945: World War II Occurs (60 million people die)

- 1949: People's Republic of China Established

- 1952 - 1994: African Independence Begins

HISTORY LESSON

The oral traditions of the Dogon hold the secrets of the universe.

Here are 6 scientific ideas the Dogon people of Mali knew long before Western scientists made the same discoveries:

• The Invisible Companion Star:

The Dogon knew about Sirius B, a tiny, dense star orbiting Sirius A, centuries before its discovery in 1862.

They accurately described its 50-year orbit, high density, and small size.

Western science only confirmed these details in the 20th century, with the orbit precisely measured in 1995.

The Seed of the Universe:

The Dogon concept of "po," a primordial seed containing all matter, mirrors the Big Bang theory.

Galaxies Beyond Our Own:

The Dogon knew of "countless stars spinning in space".

Western astronomers didn't confirm the existence of other galaxies until 1924, when Edwin Hubble made his groundbreaking observations.

The Dark Foundations of the Cosmos:

In Dogon tradition, their creator Amma formed the universe from darkness.

This aligns with the modern theory of dark matter (proposed in 1933) and dark energy (discovered in 1998), which together make up 95% of the universe.

Quantum Duality:

The Dogon concepts of "Nommo" and the "pale fox" are the principles of duality and interconnectedness.

These ideas parallel concepts like wave-particle duality (proposed in 1905) and quantum entanglement (theorized in 1935).

The Cosmic Web:

The Dogon describe the "work of the spider," a concept that mirrors aspects of string theory (developed in the 1960s-70s) and the cosmic web structure of the universe (discovered in the late 1980s).

This deep cosmic knowledge was preserved for centuries in African oral traditions and proves the sophisticated scientific thinking embedded in ancient African culture. #Africa