About Pre-Colonial African Inventions

Africa is widely considered the "cradle of civilization", with the earliest known humans originating from the continent about 7 million years ago. Anthropologists have studied various ancient cultures and artifacts in Africa, concluding that many key inventions occurred prior to colonization. It is difficult to know the exact details of precolonial African accomplishments, because ancient Africans maintained an oral tradition.

History

Precolonial Africa is widely unknown, with the exception of Saharan countries, such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Sudan. Much is known about ancient Egypt. From Morocco, there is the history of the Moors who expanded their territory into Europe, through Spain. The Moors were widely known as traders, who brought goods from the Middle East. Hannibal of Carthage was from modern-day Tunisia, and mounted a well-planned attack on Rome. Ethiopia is prominently discussed in ancient texts, including the Bible. Nubians, fierce rivals to ancient Egypt, are now ancestors to modern-day Sudan.

Features

The earliest known paper was created in Egypt, around 3000 BC. The ancient Egyptians also contributed mummification (3300 BC), the musical harp (4000 BC) and irrigation (500 BC). Imhotep, a prominent Egyptian circa 2700 BC, is also known as the first physician, not the Greek Hippocrates who was born 2,400 years later. Imhotep sought to explain health problems through science, not mysticism. Other inventions include mining, based on archaeological evidence in Lion Cave in Swaziland that dates 43,000 years old. The ancient Africans mined iron, malachite, turquoise, gold and copper.

Significance

Precolonial Africa is not widely celebrated, but it's influence is wide. Arithmetic and geometry are directly derived through precolonial Africa, dating back to 20,000 BC. Many also believe that the pyramids in South America were influenced by ancient Africans who traveled to the Americas in the centuries before Christ. Africa was heavily involved in trade, and mixed with various Eastern cultures.

Time Frame

Africa was colonized by European countries in the mid-1800s. Prior to colonization, Africa was very involved in world history. Founded in 859 AD, the oldest continuous university in the world is the University of Al-Karaouine, located in Fez, Morocco. Timbuktu created Sankore University in 1581, which housed a library with Greek books.

Misconceptions

Europe did not discover the extended portions of Africa until the 1800s with explorers such as Livingstone and Stanley. Because many ancient libraries, including those in Timbuktu and Alexandria, were destroyed, most of African history and inventions are unknown, and perhaps gone forever.