Post by topdog on May 16, 2005 5:03:47 GMT -5
On Africans. I really don't need to do this, but since posting this type of information will broaden your horizon I will:
On the Kongo kingdom:
"Early in the sixteenth century it became a Christian land, who's wealth and pomp dazzled all Christiandom. Its emperors and courtiers vied in their splendor with the grandees of Spain and Portugal, and its native prelates were ordained by Rome. Never again will an African kingdom exhibit so much refinement and so much grace. We have it on the authority of the ancient chroniclers that in their deportment and attire, in their manner and in their conversation, they had nothing to learn from the illuminati of Europe."
R.E.G. Armattoe, "The Golden Age of Western African Civilization, Lomeshie Research Center, 1946, p. 30
“The most remarkable aspect of East African coastal technology, however, was undoubtedly seen in building craftsmanship. Coral was quarried, either on land or from offshore reefs, and used both as dressed pieces and as rubble mixed with a lime-mortar that was obtained by burning coral. Plaster and concrete were also made with a similar lime base. Stone structures were built which were sometimes of considerable height and scaffolding, presumably with lashed mangrove poles, seems to have been well understood. Roofs consisted usually of a combination of mangrove rafters, stone and concrete but they could also be supported with columns and beams or could consist of vaults or domes . Doors and windows usually had fitted woodwork, most houses possessed internal pit-toilets and washing places and drainage was provided both inside and outside of some buildings (Garlake 1966). All of this implies considerable craftsmanship: there must have been quarrymen, lime-burners, stone-masons, plasterers and carpenters, to name only the most obvious. In addition, some knowledge of architectural skills was obviously present. Whatever the contributions to this overall expertise from alien sources, the bulk of the actual work must have been done by local craftsmen and it is worth pointing out that the so-called ‘pillar tomb’ that is so common on the East African coast has no known parallels elsewhere.”<br>
African civilizations
Precolonial cities and states in tropical Africa: an archaeological perspective
Graham Connah
p. 172
Cambridge University Press
I have more to come. Whats important learn is that not all of SSA can be viewed as primitive in the collective sense.
On the Kongo kingdom:
"Early in the sixteenth century it became a Christian land, who's wealth and pomp dazzled all Christiandom. Its emperors and courtiers vied in their splendor with the grandees of Spain and Portugal, and its native prelates were ordained by Rome. Never again will an African kingdom exhibit so much refinement and so much grace. We have it on the authority of the ancient chroniclers that in their deportment and attire, in their manner and in their conversation, they had nothing to learn from the illuminati of Europe."
R.E.G. Armattoe, "The Golden Age of Western African Civilization, Lomeshie Research Center, 1946, p. 30
“The most remarkable aspect of East African coastal technology, however, was undoubtedly seen in building craftsmanship. Coral was quarried, either on land or from offshore reefs, and used both as dressed pieces and as rubble mixed with a lime-mortar that was obtained by burning coral. Plaster and concrete were also made with a similar lime base. Stone structures were built which were sometimes of considerable height and scaffolding, presumably with lashed mangrove poles, seems to have been well understood. Roofs consisted usually of a combination of mangrove rafters, stone and concrete but they could also be supported with columns and beams or could consist of vaults or domes . Doors and windows usually had fitted woodwork, most houses possessed internal pit-toilets and washing places and drainage was provided both inside and outside of some buildings (Garlake 1966). All of this implies considerable craftsmanship: there must have been quarrymen, lime-burners, stone-masons, plasterers and carpenters, to name only the most obvious. In addition, some knowledge of architectural skills was obviously present. Whatever the contributions to this overall expertise from alien sources, the bulk of the actual work must have been done by local craftsmen and it is worth pointing out that the so-called ‘pillar tomb’ that is so common on the East African coast has no known parallels elsewhere.”<br>
African civilizations
Precolonial cities and states in tropical Africa: an archaeological perspective
Graham Connah
p. 172
Cambridge University Press
I have more to come. Whats important learn is that not all of SSA can be viewed as primitive in the collective sense.
