Before The Slave Trade: African World History in Pictures by Robin Walker
About the Book
It is to
be expected that for most readers early Black history is a new and unfamiliar
subject. Our focus is NOT on the usual topics of discussion, i.e. Mary Seacole,
Malcolm X, the man who invented the traffic lights, or the Slave Trade. Our
focus is much larger. This book was written to tell a much bigger and far more
important story.
We
discuss the role of Black men and women in the development of high cultures in
Africa before the coming of the Europeans. Chapter 1 presents a series of
snapshots of Africa as it was when the kidnapping and mass enslavement of
Africans began. The subsequent chapters introduce the role of Black men and
women in the origin and evolution of high cultures that have shaped the
world.
We
discuss the role of Black people in the early history of Nubia, Ancient Egypt,
Carthage and the Moorish Empire. In short, we refute the view that the African
was peripheral to the development of civilisation. We further show the role of
Black people in the ancient civilisations of the East. We highlight the
critical role of Blacks in the early history of Palestine, Arabia, Iraq, Iran,
India and Pakistan (i.e. Phoenicia, Arabia Felix, Sumer, Elam, and the Indus
Valley). Finally, we show the role of Africans in the ancient and mediæval
history of Central America.
Accompanying
the text are a series of photographs, many of them rarely used, that are vital
in driving home the main point of the book. That is, the history and
achievements of the African is something to learn from and be inspired by. It
is not a legacy to be ashamed of.
The book
contains a Glossary of words used throughout the book, and also a Chronological
Table. It is always a good idea to cross check facts and dates against the
Table
BeforeThe Slave Trade provides novices to Black History and teachers of Egyptology or African Civilisations with key photographic images as visual proof of the greatness of the Black past. Such visual resources are always necessary and it is important that such resources are readily accessible, especially as teaching material.
The book
bridges the immense gap between what scholars know about the early history and
achievements of Black people and what the general public knows. This gulf has
unfortunately remained constant for over a hundred years.
The book
serves as both an introduction and a supplementary volume to our much larger
work When We Ruled. There is almost no overlap between the two books but they
complement each other well.
The book
shows the role of Black men and women in the development of high cultures in
Africa before the coming of the Europeans. It also shows the role of Black men
and women in the origin and evolution of high cultures that have shaped the
world, such as Ancient Nubia, Ancient Egypt, Carthage, and the Moorish Empire.
Challenging the view that the African was peripheral to the development of
world civilisation, it also shows the critical role of Black people in the
ancient civilisations of the East (i.e. Phoenicia, Judah, Arabia Felix, Sumer,
Elam, and the Indus Valley). Finally, the book discusses the role of Africans
in the ancient and medieval history of Central America.
Before
The Slave Trade is an essential resource for the teacher, researcher or student
of Black History, African World Studies or Egyptology.
Book Details:
Paperback:
200 pages
Publisher:
Black History Studies Publications (1 Sep 2008)
Language
English
ISBN-10:
0955969506
ISBN-13:
978-0955969508
Product
Dimensions: 152mm x 227mm
Destroying
2 myths: Before The Slave Trade:
African
World History in Pictures: Part 2
Before The Slave
Trade Book Trailer- Part 3
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
|
1
|
|
Foreword
|
3
|
|
Introduction
|
6
|
|
The
Select Committee on the Slave Trade
|
6
|
|
About
The Book
|
7
|
|
Chapter 1
|
Before the Era of the Slave Traders
|
9
|
Chapter 2
|
Africa and the Origin of the Human Race
|
24
|
Chapter 3
|
The African in Ancient History: An Introduction
|
29
|
Chapter 4
|
The African in Ancient Egypt
|
34
|
Chapter 5
|
The African in Ancient Carthage
|
76
|
Chapter 6
|
Blacks in the Ancient History of Asia: An Introduction
|
89
|
Chapter 7
|
Blacks in the Ancient History of Palestine
|
96
|
Chapter 8
|
Blacks in the Ancient History of Arabia
|
100
|
Chapter 9
|
Blacks in the Ancient History of Iraq
|
105
|
Chapter 10
|
Blacks in the Ancient History of Iran
|
110
|
Chapter 11
|
Blacks in the Ancient History of India and Pakistan
|
115
|
Chapter 12
|
Africans in the Early History of Central America
|
121
|
Appendices
|
Pictorial Supplement
|
127
|
Summary of Pictorial Resources contained in Before the Slave Trade and When We Ruled
|
159
|
|
Glossary
|
170
|
|
Chronological Table
|
174
|
|
Bibliography
|
184
|
|
Special Bibliography for Additional Pictorial Resources
|
189
|
|
Index
|
192
|
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robin
Walker, or ‘The Black History Man,’ is a noted scholar of Medieval African
History. Growing up in the 70’s, Walker believed that “the only thing black
people contributed to world culture was to be slaves.” It was during the 90’s,
after obtaining an economics degree from LSE Walker gained deeper understanding
of Ancient African Civilisations having been inspired by Chancellor Williams’
book The Destruction of Black Civilization.
Since
then Walker has worked tirelesslyto disseminate knowledge, lecturing in African
World Studies, Egyptology and Black History at universities and conferences
across the UK and authoring 16 books. In 1999 he wrote Classical Splendour:
Roots of Black History and Sword, The Seal and Koran in 2000. But arguably,
Walker is best known for his 2006 textbook When We Ruled, heralded as an update
to the Chancellor Williams text that inspired him. An incredible text
shattering the myth that high civilisation only existed in Egypt. In 2008 he
authored Before the Slave Trade, a pictorial companion to When We Ruled. In
2011 and 2012, he wrote a series of e-book lecture-essays on a wide variety of
topics ranging from The Black Musical Tradition to the Equinox. Walker’s latest
piece Everyday Life in an Early West African Empire (with Siaf Millar and Saran
Keita) is available on Amazon. Walker’s collection of writings are invaluable
insights into Ancient civilisations for Africans worldwide.
INTERVIEW
When and why did you begin writing Before the Slave Trade?
In Summer 2006 a colleague invited me to help in teaching a course on Ancient Egypt entitled African Perspectives on Egypt. While planning the programme and reading material for the course, I realised what was missing. I realised that someone needed to write a book that contained the photographic evidence that proved that Ancient Egypt belonged to Africa - a book that contained the authentic portraits of the different pharaohs. Professors Cheikh Anta Diop and Ivan Van Sertima made much headway in their respective books, but they did not publish all the evidence in one place. I began Before the Slave Trade to fulfil this need.
To continue Reading click on the link below.
https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Walker/e/B0034NB0ZO
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Thanks for your comment. Peace, NB