Lecture Notes: African History and Lost Civilizations

Introduction

• Dominant Western narrative: Africans as people without history.
• Oral traditions in African civilizations; lack of written records led to fading memories.

Mapungubwe

• A kingdom near the South African border with Zimbabwe, vanished around 800 years ago.
• Local Venda people have ancestral whispers about buried kings and queens.
• In 1932, Afrikaner adventurer Ernst von Mappen uncovered royal treasures at Mapungubwe.
• Treasures included a golden scepter and gold rhinoceros, which were eventually donated to the University of Pretoria.

Importance and Secrecy

• Artifacts are crucial for sub-Saharan African history, but remain locked in archaeology department vaults.
• Secrecy linked to apartheid; white settlers' narratives of simultaneous arrival with Africans.
• Radiocarbon dating confirmed Mapungubwe's timeline.

Great Zimbabwe

• Founded around the 14th century, it was an African empire larger than medieval London.
• Prosperous and powerful; relied heavily on cattle for wealth.
• Provided gold and ivory to Swahili merchants; part of Africa's trade network.

Misrepresentation and Exploration

• European disbelief in African capability led to myths of a lost white civilization.
• Karl Mauch attributed ruins to white builders, linked to biblical narratives.
• Gertrude Caton Thompson's 1929 expedition proved ancient Bantu people built Great Zimbabwe.

Swahili Coast

• Swahili people played a major role in the trade network spanning from East Africa to China.
• Influence of Islam; Swahili brokers were central to trade.

Misinterpretation and Rediscovery

• Coast cities attributed to Arabs; archaeological evidence shows African builders.
• Mark Horton's work to uncover Swahili history and claim their heritage.

Decline of the African Kingdoms

• By the 16th century, many African cities fell into ruin; reasons remain speculative.
• The cultural legacy of African civilizations suffered due to historical denial.

Conclusion

• Africa as the cradle of humanity; African civilizations have been misunderstood and underappreciated.
• The narrative of African history and achievements is shifting to recognize their contribution to world history.