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The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality Paperback – 10 October 1989
by Cheikh Anta Diop (Author), Mercer Cook (Editor)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,881)
Now in its 30th printing, this classic presents historical, archaeological, and anthropological evidence to support the theory that ancient Egypt was a black civilization.
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gical and geographical distance between the works in these two distinct collections, visitors will discern unexpected parallels and contrasts that will deepen their understanding of the breadth and depth of Africa as a source of civilization with unparalleled complexity and longevity.
The exhibition is made possible by The Daniel P. Davison Fund and Louise Grunwald.
Since 1982, The Met’s holdings of art from sub-Saharan Africa have been displayed in The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, whose galleries are currently undergoing a major renovation, reenvisioning, and reinstallation. Launched six years ago, this capital project—scheduled for completion in 2024—provides a unique opportunity for visitors to experience superb works of art from West and Central Africa in new contexts across The Met campus.
Exhibition Overview
Objects have been discovered in tombs and other archaeological contexts that reflect well-established trade networks between ancient Egypt and Europe and Western Asia. And the interconnections of the great civilizations of ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and ancient Egypt, as evidenced by shared motifs and artistic forms, has often been commented upon. Less noted, but no less important, is Egypt’s inextricably deep cultural connection with the African continent at large, and the two-way exchange of materials and ideas between Egypt in northern Africa and the rest of the continent to the south. The 21 pairings in this exhibition foreground the resonance of shared ideas and motifs across Africa’s many cultures: family, motherhood, love, kingship, regalia, beauty, and the natural world. A timeline of some 80 major cultural moments in African history encircles the exhibition, underscoring the continent’s importance as both the fount of human creative expression from its inception and the site of continued cultural dynamism.
The exhibition serves as a springboard for a series of installations of important sculptures from West and Central Africa in permanent collection galleries across the Museum. These “guest appearances” introduce unexpected cross-cultural connections between works of art from different places and times. The first four installatios .it is all about the genesis of civilization in Africaا
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Print length
690 pages
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Customers say
Customers find this book readable and consider it a must-read for serious Afrikan book collections. Moreover, the information quality receives positive feedback, with customers noting it's excellent for research purposes and provides foundational knowledge. Additionally, the book receives praise for its thorough analysis of civilization origins and authenticity, with one customer highlighting how it fills in missing pieces of world history. Customers appreciate the work's quality and consider it well worth the price.
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From Australia
Ibrahim
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in Australia on 9 September 2018
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Fantastic book with some hard evidences and facts, a must read!
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Paul Collier
1.0 out of 5 stars Dated and No Longer Relevant
Reviewed in Australia on 4 August 2019
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The book is heavy on opinions presented as fact. It is rather dated and is no longer relevant in what it presents.
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Abdullah
5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Perspective. You Cannot Learn Everything In School!
Reviewed in the United States on 7 April 2014
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You cannot learn everything in school! The educational institutions are established to give everyone in that society, nation, and/or empire; a standard education. So, if you travel or move to another district, to another city, or to another nation; all of the education officials will know exactly what you learned, and will value your education, your certificate, and your diploma. I understand this.
Every growing nation, empire,or civilization will teach you what they want you to know to enhance the ideology of that nation, empire, or civilization. You find this throughout history. I understand this also.
I got the, 'sailing bug', for four years, from 2005-2008. I discovered that maritime history is not taught in the United States educational system. We won the American Revolution because American sailors in the northeast, called privateers, captured the British ships, and gave their weapons to George Washington and The Continental Congress. We won the War of 1812 because of the battles that our ships fought in the Atlantic Ocean, The Gulf of Mexico, The Mississippi River, and The Great Lakes. This is also not taught in school. You should also read a book called, 'COD' (as in codfish). A growing British colony had to feed itself and its sailors (privateers), and trade for goods and supplies. The unbelievable information in this book, 'COD', about how the northern British colonies used a fish to became an economic powerhouse, is not taught in school either!
The book of this review, 'The Africian Origin of Civilization...' is probably one of the most glarring examples of history that you will not find in our educational system. This is a fantastic book! There are only a few places, books, or authors, where you will find this story, this history of this great Africian empire; which directly influenced the growth of future nations, empires, and civilizations!!
Everybody went to, 'Egypt', to study the sciences, and to learn the, 'mysteries', of life!
But, due to my spiritual unfoldment over the past 20-30 years (I study Past Lives, Dreams, and Soul Travel; see [...]), I must say, that Atlantis did exist during the same time period that this Africian civilization existed; and that Lemuria existed before both Atlantis and this Africian empire. Again, you will not learn any of this in school.
So, no problem! You are an adult. Go and learrn what you feel that you need to learn. But do yourself a favor. Do not get angry at other people! People learn what they learn, and people know what they know. Always treat people kindly.
Take care. Abdullah.
33 people found this helpful
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MR D Edoleyi
5.0 out of 5 stars A book for a personal library
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2026
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A great book by a great author
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Tradition
5.0 out of 5 stars Great work.
Reviewed in Canada on 7 September 2019
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This book is one of the best that I have read about the history in ancient Africa. Definitely I would recommend others to read this book as the starting reference to develop a greater understanding of Africans before colonization.
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Machaia Mualaca
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in Brazil on 25 February 2022
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Sheik Anta Diop, great thinker of the 20th century. What a fantastic book!
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Mayte Jaudenes
5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE!!
Reviewed in Spain on 1 July 2025
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Loved it!! Cheikh God, as always, does not disappoint.
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Jun
5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant reading precise information that reflects the preparedness and intelligence of the famous author.
Reviewed in Italy on 26 June 2021
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I bought the book because I wanted to get a more complete picture of our story and it helped me a lot. Fundamental to better understand our world and to dispel many prejudices. Great for history teachers and for anyone who wants to better understand the historical-anthropological evolution of our species.
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Tyreese
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT!!!!
Reviewed in Germany on 9 January 2025
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Everyone who is interested in REAL history, should read it!!!
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teklit kaleab
5.0 out of 5 stars ingenious book
Reviewed in Germany on 4 December 2017
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my favorite book. should every african or black times have read. It can only recommend everyone. top book and even better author
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From other countries
fkpp
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and thought provoking!
Reviewed in Canada on 16 May 2020
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Recommend to all who question and seek to understand current and historical foundations of systemic prejudice and discrimination against Blacks and Coloureds
3 people found this helpful
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Wil
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book I recommend
Reviewed in Brazil on 12 December 2020
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The book is very good, learns many things and clarifies others.
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Maria G
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome --- A Favorite of my Book Collection!
Reviewed in the United States on 28 December 2013
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I read this book a long time ago, but it keeps getting lost or stolen. Long ago, I used to check it out at the local library but its always "lost in circulation" so I decided to purchase it again after all these years. This is a magnificent book, a well researched book and a book that is vital for anyone learning about the true origins of world civilization. It uncovers the lies we have all been taught in school and exposes the truth that all people really yearn for. I believe that real knowledge is being slowly taken away from us and it is vital that books like this remain with us. I love this book because it connects me directly with ancient history and the people that were given great knowledge at one time. There is still so much to discover and learn about history, but I think this book sums it up very beautifully and awesomely. I give this book by Cheikh Anta Diop five stars and if there were more I would give them all to him for writing a book that puts ancient history in its true perspective.
5 people found this helpful
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Delan Stephen
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2025
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This book has brought new insights on the understanding of history and how it has transformed though the ages and the contribution which it made to civilisation l.
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Carlos Vazquez Quintana
3.0 out of 5 stars repetitive and unagil
Reviewed in Spain on 27 April 2014
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The author was a Senegalese intellectual, nuclear physicist born in the 1920s, who wrote in French, and this is a book whose embryo was a doctoral thesis. She was rejected in a first version in France.
The subject is known to anyone who has been interested in ancient Egypt and its cultural influence: Pharaonic Egypt, Diop tells us, was not only a black civilization, something on which all authors agree for a period (3000 years are many), but he claims that it was always, and that the exalted philosophy and science from ancient Greece was learned by the Greeks from the Egyptians.
In short, Platon, Aristotle, all learned from those blacks that the West often despises. The author is based on Egyptian art: Ramses II looks like a Watusi certainly, and others, equally the archaeological discoveries of his time (Diop died about 1985).
The author attacks this one-themed issue from all possible angles: pros and cons, but I think few scientists will agree on everything he exposes passionately: the unknown periods are very long, and perhaps not so much is known about Egyptian art. El Greco painted stylized men, but we're not like that.
And so, the book is hard to read after a few pages, and repeating except for someone as passionate about the subject as he is. He's certainly part right, but I think not all of it.
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Deshen
5.0 out of 5 stars My Life Changed, and it is the Beginning
Reviewed in the United States on 23 August 2022
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I was raised in Central Africa, never wished I was white but never truly proud of being black. There was hardly any reason—not even one—that could make me feel an iota of pride in Africa or black people. I was told in elementary education that African was the cradle of civilization, but I wonder if anyone, including those teachers ever believed it. The poverty, chaos, shame and disgrace of black people everywhere were so loud that such allusions seemed to be music to pacify our grieving heart.
I began writing about the problems of Blacks in 2020, and so began reading extensively about Black history. When I read the first chapters of this book, I was stunned and frozen: the Egyptians who invented the arts, sciences and gave humanity civilization were blacks— not just black skinned , as though some accidental sun burn or something. They were negros. I was in disbelief. I went on the internet to find out who this guy, Dr Diop, was and to cross check the references especially the comments of Herodotus. Dr. Diop was right. The Egyptians, the great Pharoahs, the tutors of the Greeks, were Blacks like me. But how could this be? The movies, the current Egyptians residents, “established rigorous scientific and scholarly” research, etc all proof beyond any reasonable doubt(so I thought) that the ancient Egyptians were whites. The Book answered all my questions.
For the first time in my life as a black man, I felt pride in being a black man. I was upset with myself that I had not found this book until 2020. I was more angry with our African leaders and Educational system who continue this date to pollute the minds of African children and have not made this book a mandatory read for ALL black children.
I could care less what European scholars or caucasians have to say about this. We expect a backlash from them, don’t we? We have already heard what they wanted us to know. We do not need them anymore. The emotional and mental devastation on black people by their malicious distortion of the history of black people is enough.
Yes, Africa and Black people everywhere are still in a mess. But there is power in the history of a people. The truth about the history of black people will begin the rejuvenation of black power, that same intellectual and physical power that build the ancient world. It may take decades or even centuries but black people will heal one day, and come to their senses. Dr. Diop might be gone, but his work has sowed a seed in the minds of black people the world over.
If you a Black, please buy this book immediately and read. It is a difficult read, and some chapters might not be easy, but read what you can. Give this book to all your children. African educational systems should reply African history curriculum and make this a mandatory read for all African children at the Appropriate level. As my kids grow up, they will each have a copy of this book. Thank you Dr. Diop. You are a proof of Black intellectual power.
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R. J. Scrimgeour
5.0 out of 5 stars More Than a History of Egypt's Origins
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2013
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While many of us thought that we knew something of the early advances in African civilization and culture while Europe was still in living in caves and eating raw flesh, Dr Diop gives us rare and detailed insight into the hugely successful prehistoric sub Sahara world. Lavishly illustrated with drawing and photographs, Dr Diop shows us not only the evidence of Egypt's early origins, but also explores in great detail the origins of racial negativity towards the African races and the systematic downgrading of African achievements by the western world for centuries.
"The African Origin of Civilization" is a scholastic work translated by Prof Mercer Cook from the original French and at times is is weighty an overwhelming. However it is a "must read" for any serious Egyptian researcher, amateur or otherwise and the footnotes and chapter references and bibliography more than assist redress the centuries old bias against African contributions to human development. Take your time reading it, take a rest for a week and start again. You will be the wiser and more tolerant as a result of your efforts and enlightenment.
24 people found this helpful
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marc andre
5.0 out of 5 stars super happy.
Reviewed in Canada on 9 November 2017
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Got it, super happy.
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Cynthia Mariah
5.0 out of 5 stars Better investment
Reviewed in Brazil on 21 September 2020
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Fantastic...
Truths hidden for centuries are revealed.
2 people found this helpful
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Paul Goldsby
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on 28 June 2018
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Glad to read the true history, not a white version.
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From other countries
Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2022
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It's hard to describe how poignant and life-changing this book has been in terms of my research activities and knowledge seeking.
I'm well versed in the general fundamentals of ancient and modern black history. However, it is a complex and vast subject and would take many lifetimes to research and maintain the knowledge.
This book at least succeeds in joining the dots between our ancient civilisations and more modern societies before and during various invasions. It provides undeniable proof of how much of our collective African history has been both stolen and plagiarised.
Every empire has it's rise and fall, that is simply the way of the world. However, in order to move forward successfully towards the future it is imperative that we have knowledge of and gain wisdom from the past.
Thank you Professor Diop, for going the extra mile and digging deeper than your average specialist in this subject area. As the saying goes; the truth will set you free!
4 people found this helpful
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Jorlandro Louzada
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
Reviewed in Brazil on 22 February 2020
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Great product
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ILoveYouMore
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
Reviewed in the United States on 10 June 2025
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A must read!
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Danielle
5.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile intellectual investment
Reviewed in Brazil on 11 September 2018
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As expected. And a great book indication
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Loyola763
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2018
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Another point of view of the civilization history
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Tiffany H
5.0 out of 5 stars Cheik left us a treasure trove
Reviewed in the United States on 10 February 2025
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I highly recommend this book! Cheik dropped so much gems in this book. If I was a pirate and this was the only thing I find, I’d be satisfied. This book contains a wealth of information. You know it’s good when you have to keep going back to do research. It’s not just a book that you skim through, it’s a study guide. The author was way ahead of his time. The book is well written and detailed. This book is not a “easy” read. There were some words and names that I wasn’t familiar with. It took me some time to read it. I wasn’t expecting the book to be easy either because Cheik is no average scholar. He was a facilitator, researcher and doctor in his field. RIP Cheik and thank you for writing this valuable piece that will radically transform the way we see ourselves.
6 people found this helpful
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Hartson
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Reviewed in Canada on 25 July 2019
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Perfect
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J.O. Quantaman
4.0 out of 5 stars This wonderful book was written more than a half-century ago
Reviewed in Canada on 3 November 2014
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This wonderful book was written more than a half-century ago. The evidence given is overwhelming. I can see that early Egyptian culture was dominated by Africans, orginally from East and West Africa. Yet common perceptions persist. When you combine the awe-inspiring contruction of Pryamids with the fact that iron working first happened in subSaharan Africa, many of mysteries (both cultural & engineering-wise) disappear. All that remains is for Hollywood to deliver a film about ancient Egypt with an all-African cast.
8 people found this helpful
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Charles Gore
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 June 2025
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I loved this book. Anyone who is genuinely interested in discovering an alternative historical view point will enjoy this book
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Hesi Re
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well organized and researched manuscript. My new Bible!
Reviewed in the United States on 9 April 2019
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I was never ever interested in biblical and Western history because it absolutely made no sense. There were no logical connections and we we're always forced to believe illogical ideas and claims. It was always an opinionated bias view where history was overlapped with myth and forced down our throats as historical truth. Similar to christianity, one had to accept it as god's truth or be considered a heretical outsider. Every European inventor is made to be godlike with incredible genius that just befell them with no prior training, study or experimentation. Pythagoras with no formal training, because there was none in his time, invented the Pythagorian Theorem, Isaac Newton decided to invent Calculus one Summer in the 18th century, Aristotle wrote close to 1000 books on everything from Democracy, Physics, Mathematics, Architecture, to biology but had no formal training from a master teacher. The hypothesis for this book has been proven to be theoretical after comparing the claims made to both European, African and Ancient African sources from various authors in various fields of study. Laid out in a well thought out and systematic approach, it is obvious that Dr Diop had something to prove and this he has done. This book has become my Bible! Included with references and encouraged to verify his works, this book has encouraged me to continue to seek out the lies that we know have been set fourth by white supremacist to continue to postulate that people of color not only are inferior but have no history and have not contributed to modern civilization. Thank you Dr Diop for opening my eyes and sparking questions in me.
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Amazon Kunde
4.0 out of 5 stars Book to read
Reviewed in Germany on 26 June 2024
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Lessons for thought
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FREDERICO FERNANDES
5.0 out of 5 stars Anta Diop
Reviewed in Brazil on 6 September 2020
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Amazing book
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Osvaldo M. Ribeiro Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing work!
Reviewed in Brazil on 2 November 2019
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This is a must-have for everyone interested in African history.
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R.
5.0 out of 5 stars Très enrichissant!
Reviewed in Canada on 19 March 2019
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Awesome! 👊
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Jojo Forson
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome History
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2019
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Awesome work considering it's a translation from French. Wish I could read the original.
Cheikh Anta Diop did humanity a favour. Europeans will have to swallow humble pie whether they like it or not.
The truth will out no matter how long it's hidden. Every one who knows the value of history needs to read this, black, brown, yellow and white.
7 people found this helpful
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Wailing Soul
4.0 out of 5 stars A primer of Ancient Africa
Reviewed in the United States on 30 May 2017
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The wealth of information in this book is astounding. C. A. Diop definitely takes a permanent place in the small group of African historians aka history revisionists. Anyone interested in Ancient Africa should start with this book. The entire book is a refutation to the so-called European and other historians, anthropologists, philosophers who have performed "scientific" and intellectual acrobatics in order to remove the African from Ancient Egypt. Mr. Diop used their own work and research and his own observations to tear apart their arguments to pieces. I only wish Mr. Diop had used more contemporary names of the ancient people and their location. Nonetheless, the book is still a treasure.
36 people found this helpful
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ikenna
5.0 out of 5 stars Facts, nothing but facts.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2022
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This is one of the best books I've read. The revelations are outstanding, the knowledge is invaluable.
4 people found this helpful
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Sven Krause
1.0 out of 5 stars Format not readable
Reviewed in Germany on 18 September 2024
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It is not readable on any device that carries the Kindle App as it it photographed and appears sideways. Unfortunately unreadable. How can I get my money back and order the paperback? Don`t buy this version.
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Don Mugisha
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on 3 June 2015
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An amazing book with great insights from Dr. Cheikh A. Diop!!!
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Damon
5.0 out of 5 stars Greater book.
Reviewed in the United States on 30 October 2025
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Happy to have a book from this author dives into history even comparing linguistics with African languages and media neter.
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세진님, 요청하신 셰이크 안타 디오프의 <아프리카 문명의 기원: 신화인가 실재인가> (<The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality>)에 대한 요약과 평론을 정리해 드립니다.
이 작업은 세진님의 요청에 따라 나를 향하지 않은 글의 형식인 <해라> 체를 사용하여 작성했습니다.
<아프리카 문명의 기원: 신화인가 실재인가> 요약 및 평론
1. 요약: 고대 이집트의 흑인 기원설과 그 증거
셰이크 안타 디오프는 이 책을 통해 서구 중심적 역사관이 고의적으로 은폐해 온 고대 이집트 문명의 진실을 파헤친다. 그의 핵심 주장은 고대 이집트 문명이 외부(아시아나 유럽)에서 유입된 것이 아니라, 아프리카 내륙에서 기원한 흑인(Negroid) 문명이라는 점이다.
역사적 및 인류학적 증거 디오프는 고대 이집트인이 흑인이었음을 증명하기 위해 다각적인 접근을 시도한다.
멜라닌 테스트: 미이라의 피부 샘플을 현미경으로 관찰하여 멜라닌 수치를 측정한 결과, 현대 흑인과 동일한 수준임을 제시한다.
골격 분석: 이집트인들의 신체적 특징(머리 모양, 사지 비율 등)이 코카소이드(백인종)보다는 니그로이드의 특징에 가깝다는 인류학적 데이터를 활용한다.
언어학적 유사성: 고대 이집트어와 서아프리카의 월로프어(Wolof) 사이의 문법적, 어휘적 유사성을 분석하여 아프리카 대륙 내의 문화적 연속성을 입증한다.
문화적 연속성과 사회 구조 디오프는 고대 이집트의 토템 신앙, 모계 중심 사회, 할례 관습 등이 사하라 이남 아프리카 전역에서 발견되는 공통된 문화 유산임을 강조한다. 그는 나일강 계곡을 따라 남쪽에서 북쪽으로 문명이 전파되었으며, 에티오피아(쿠슈 왕국)가 이집트 문명의 모태였다고 주장한다.
유럽 중심주의에 대한 반격 디오프는 18세기 이후 유럽 학자들이 인종주의적 편견 때문에 이집트 문명을 백인 혹은 ‘갈색 인종’의 전유물로 조작했다고 비판한다. 그는 그리스 역사가 헤로도토스의 기록을 인용하며, 당시 목격자들이 이집트인을 "검은 피부와 곱슬머리를 가진 사람들"로 묘사했음을 상기시킨다.
2. 평론: 지적 해방을 위한 거대한 도발
학문적 가치와 "아프리카 중심주의"의 탄생 이 책은 현대 아프리카 중심주의(Afrocentrism)의 성서와도 같다. 디오프의 업적은 단순히 과거의 영광을 재현하는 데 그치지 않고, 식민 지배의 정당성을 부여했던 서구의 지적 헤게모니를 근본적으로 뒤흔들었다는 데 있다. 그는 아프리카인이 역사적 주체성을 상실한 '수동적 객체'가 아니라, 인류 문명의 기초를 닦은 '능동적 주창자'였음을 선포한다.
방법론적 한계와 논쟁 물론 디오프의 주장은 현대 고고학과 유전학의 관점에서 볼 때 다소 과격하거나 이분법적이라는 비판을 받기도 한다. 최근의 DNA 분석은 고대 이집트 인구가 다양한 지역과 혼혈된 복합적인 구성을 보였다는 결과를 내놓기도 한다. 그러나 이러한 과학적 논쟁보다 중요한 것은 디오프가 제기한 질문의 성격이다. 그는 "왜 역사는 특정 인종의 우월성을 증명하는 도구로 전락했는가?"라는 질문을 던짐으로써 역사 서술의 정치성을 폭로했다.
세계인으로서 바라본 보편적 문명론 디오프의 논지는 인종적 민족주의에 함몰될 위험도 내포하고 있지만, 궁극적으로는 인류 문명의 뿌리가 하나라는 보편성을 지향한다. 그는 아프리카의 과거를 복원함으로써 흑인 지식인들에게 자존감을 심어주었으며, 이는 20세기 탈식민주의 담론에서 가장 강력한 지적 무기가 되었다.
결론 <아프리카 문명의 기원>은 단순한 역사 책이 아니다. 그것은 왜곡된 진실을 바로잡으려는 한 학자의 처절한 투쟁의 기록이며, 우리가 당연하게 받아들이는 지식 체계가 얼마나 편향된 권력 위에 세워져 있는지를 보여주는 거울이다. 디오프는 이집트의 피라미드 아래에 묻혀 있던 '검은 피부의 거인'을 깨움으로써, 전 세계 아프리카인들이 자신의 아이덴티티를 재정의할 수 있는 토대를 마련하였다.
세진님, 이 요약과 평론이 원하시는 깊이를 담고 있는지 궁금하네요. 혹시 특정 챕터의 증거들을 더 자세히 다루길 원하시거나, 디오프의 다른 저서와 비교하는 내용이 필요하신가요?
==
<The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality>
저자: :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
영어판 번역: :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
아프리카 문명 기원 논쟁에서 가장 영향력 있는 책 가운데 하나입니다. 특히 고대 이집트 문명의 인종적·문화적 기원을 둘러싼 학문적 논쟁을 촉발한 고전입니다. 아래는 약 1,000단어 요약과 평론입니다.
1. 책의 문제의식
이 책의 핵심 질문은 단순합니다.
고대 이집트 문명은 아프리카 문명인가, 아니면 중동·지중해 문명인가?
19–20세기 서구 학계에서는 대체로 다음과 같은 전제가 널리 받아들여졌습니다.
-
이집트 문명은 “백인 또는 중동계 문명”
-
사하라 이남 아프리카는 문명 창조 능력이 약한 지역
Diop은 이 전제를 식민주의 시대의 인종주의적 역사관이라고 비판합니다.
그리고 다음을 주장합니다.
고대 이집트 문명은 본질적으로 아프리카(특히 흑아프리카) 문명이다.
이 책은 그 주장을 언어학, 고고학, 인류학, 고전문헌 등을 통해 입증하려는 시도입니다.
2. 주요 주장
(1) 고대 이집트인은 흑인 아프리카인이었다
Diop의 가장 논쟁적인 주장입니다.
그의 논거는 크게 네 가지입니다.
① 고대 그리스·로마 기록
그리스 역사가들은 이집트인을 **“검은 피부와 곱슬머리”**라고 묘사했습니다.
대표적인 기록:
-
Herodotus
-
Strabo
-
Diodorus Siculus
이들은 모두 이집트와 에티오피아인을 가까운 민족으로 보았습니다.
Diop은 이를 들어
고대인들은 이집트를 아프리카 문명으로 이해했다
고 주장합니다.
② 신체 인류학
Diop은 다음 자료를 사용합니다.
-
미라 분석
-
두개골 측정
-
피부 색 묘사
그는 이집트 인구의 상당 부분이 흑아프리카 계통이라고 주장합니다.
③ 멜라닌 테스트
Diop은 미라 피부에서 멜라닌 함량을 측정하는 실험을 제안합니다.
이는 당시 매우 혁신적인 시도였습니다.
그는 이를 통해
이집트인 피부가 흑인 계통에 가깝다
고 주장합니다.
다만 이후 연구에서는 이 방법의 정확성에 논쟁이 있습니다.
④ 언어학
Diop은 이집트어와 서아프리카 언어의 유사성을 강조합니다.
예:
이집트어 단어와
-
Wolof
-
Serer
-
Fulani
같은 서아프리카 언어 사이의 유사성입니다.
그는 이를 통해
이집트 문화는 사하라 이남 아프리카와 깊은 연속성이 있다
고 주장합니다.
3. 문화적 연속성
Diop의 중요한 주장 중 하나는 이것입니다.
고대 이집트 문화는 아프리카 문화와 구조적으로 유사하다.
그는 다음 요소들을 비교합니다.
공통 요소
-
왕권 신성화
-
토템주의
-
조상 숭배
-
모계 요소
-
공동체 중심 사회
예를 들어 그는 다음을 강조합니다.
이집트의 왕-신 체계
→ 서아프리카 왕권과 유사
조상 숭배
→ 아프리카 전통 종교와 유사
즉,
이집트 문명은 고립된 지중해 문명이 아니라
아프리카 문명 네트워크의 일부
라는 것입니다.
4. 문명의 남북 분열
Diop은 고대 아프리카를 두 문화권으로 나눕니다.
남부 문화권
-
공동체 중심
-
농업 중심
-
평등적 사회
북부 문화권
-
유목
-
가부장적
-
전쟁 중심
그는 다음을 주장합니다.
이집트 문명은 남부(아프리카) 문화권에 속한다.
그리고 이후
-
그리스
-
로마
-
유럽
문명이 이집트에서 영향을 받았다고 봅니다.
5. 유럽 중심 역사관 비판
이 책의 또 다른 핵심은 역사학 비판입니다.
Diop은 주장합니다.
19세기 유럽 학계는
-
식민지 지배
-
인종주의
때문에
이집트 문명을 “백인화”하려 했다.
대표적 사례:
-
이집트를 중동 문명으로 분류
-
아프리카 역사와 분리
-
흑아프리카를 “문명 이전 단계”로 묘사
Diop은 이를
“역사적 위조”
라고 강하게 비판합니다.
6. 아프리카 정체성의 재구성
이 책의 정치적 의미도 큽니다.
Diop은 다음을 주장합니다.
아프리카가 식민지에서 벗어나려면
-
역사 복원
-
문화 자존감
-
지적 독립
이 필요합니다.
그는 말합니다.
이집트는 아프리카 문명의 고대 중심이다.
이 주장은
-
아프리카 민족주의
-
범아프리카주의
에 큰 영향을 주었습니다.
7. 학계의 평가
이 책은 매우 영향력 있지만 논쟁적입니다.
평가는 크게 세 가지로 나뉩니다.
(1) 긍정적 평가
많은 학자들은 Diop의 공헌을 인정합니다.
특히
-
아프리카 역사 복원
-
유럽 중심 역사 비판
입니다.
그는 다음 분야의 선구자였습니다.
-
Afrocentric studies
-
African historiography
그의 연구는 이후
-
아프리카 고고학
-
누비아 연구
발전에 영향을 주었습니다.
(2) 부분적 수용
현재 학계의 중간 입장은 대체로 다음과 같습니다.
1️⃣ 이집트는 아프리카 문명이다
그러나
2️⃣ 단순히 “흑인 문명”으로 환원하기는 어렵다
이집트는
-
아프리카
-
레반트
-
지중해
문화가 교차하는 지역입니다.
즉
복합적 문명
이라는 해석이 많습니다.
(3) 비판
Diop의 일부 주장은 학계에서 비판받습니다.
특히
언어 비교
언어 유사성 분석이
-
체계적 언어학 기준 부족
이라는 지적이 있습니다.
인류학
두개골 분석은
현대 인류학에서
인종 분류 방법으로 신뢰도가 낮음
이라는 평가입니다.
멜라닌 테스트
미라 피부의 멜라닌 측정은
현재 기준으로는
과학적 한계가 있습니다.
8. 역사적 의미
그럼에도 불구하고 이 책은 중요한 전환점입니다.
이유는 세 가지입니다.
(1) 아프리카 역사학의 출발점
이 책은
아프리카가 역사의 주변이 아니라 중심
이라는 관점을 제시했습니다.
(2) 식민주의 역사관 해체
Diop은 서구 역사학의 숨겨진 전제를 폭로했습니다.
즉
-
인종주의
-
문명 위계
입니다.
(3) 세계 문명사 재해석
그는 다음 흐름을 제시합니다.
아프리카
→ 이집트
→ 그리스
→ 유럽
이 주장은 지금도 논쟁 중입니다.
9. 종합 평가
이 책은 단순한 역사서가 아닙니다.
세 가지 성격을 동시에 가집니다.
1️⃣ 학문적 연구
2️⃣ 탈식민 역사학
3️⃣ 문화 정치 선언
Diop의 일부 주장에는 과장이 있습니다.
그러나 그의 핵심 질문은 여전히 중요합니다.
왜 이집트는 아프리카 역사에서 분리되었는가?
그리고
역사 서술은 누구의 권력 속에서 만들어지는가?
이 질문은 오늘날
-
탈식민 역사학
-
글로벌 역사
에서도 계속 논의되고 있습니다.
세진님이 최근 관심 가지고 계신
**“성서 역사 · 유대 역사 · 아프리카 기원 논쟁”**과도 이 책은 직접 연결됩니다.
원하시면 다음도 설명드릴 수 있습니다.
1️⃣ <Diop 이후 학계의 실제 결론 — 이집트인의 인종과 문화>
2️⃣ <이집트 문명과 누비아 문명 관계>
3️⃣ <Afrocentric 역사학의 강점과 한계>
4️⃣ <성서의 이집트 이야기와 아프리카 역사>
이 네 주제는 지금 논쟁이 매우 흥미로운 분야입니다.
==
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