Papers > History > History of Africa and the Identity and Psyche of its People
|
Featured Papers from Direct Essays
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a preview of a paper to view the full text you need to signup and login.
|
History of Africa and the Identity and Psyche of its People
|
|
|
Africa, often touted as the “Dark Continent” because of the complexion of its people and the “Cradle of Mankind” because of its rich hominid fossil sites, can be separated into two regions based on its principal land feature, the Sahara Desert: the Arab States (e. ... Morocco & Egypt), nations to the north of the desert, and Sub-Saharan Africa (e. ... South Africa, Kenya & Uganda), those belonging to the southern part. These two regions are characterized by very distinct cultures, traditions, religions and lifestyles which played major parts in the landmass’ history.
Tracing Sub-Saharan Africa’s pre-Colonial cultural milieu is quite daunting since it tends to be overshadowed by the Arab States through such wondrous and monumental empires as that of the Egyptian and Nubian Pharaohs (in Egypt and Sudan), Dido’s and Hannibal’s Carthage (in Tunisia) and the great schools of Timbuktu (in Mali). Hence, the greater part of Africa was left in the twilight zone of the known world during medieval times; such cryptic assumptions came in the form of “urban legends” like being the land of savage beasts (Africa’s rich fauna) and cannibals and “white” men would risk their skins being burned and damaged permanently (turning into black) once they ventured down Africa’s latitudinal length. In this regard, a clear line had been drawn between the northern and southern portions of the continent as greatly shown in the encroachment of Islamic religion to the African north (hence the name Arab States) while the rest of the continent was left out of the limelight of history.
Due to the fact that culture and lifestyle revolves around and reflects religion, the Arab States eventually succumbed to the conservative ideas of the strict Sunni Muslim Laws, not mentioning the fact that the people from these nations are of mixed African, European and Arabian ancestry; thus, portraying distinct physical and cultural features, veering away from their African “cousins.”
Still, even though history books and encyclopedias allude more to great European and Asian empires, Africa cannot be denied those of its own. ... These not discounting the fact that countless, innumerable minor kingdoms also flourished under the auspices of the Zulu (in South Africa) and Bantu (in Western Africa) tribes that thrived through trade with various Arabic, Indian and even Chinese empires. ...
Moving on from the political and economic to the cultural aspects, native Africans have adapted to the tropical and desert-like heat of the environment thereby developing dark complexion, kinky hair, thick lips and short limbs and stature (oddly enough, Africa is home to the Pygmies of Congo, the shortest people/tribe in the world, averaging to 4½ feet in height, and the Tutsi of Central Africa, the tallest people/tribe in the world, averaging to 6 feet in height).
|
|
|
To link to this page, copy the following code to your site:
|
|
Paper Information
|
|
|
Title: History of Africa and the Identity and Psyche of its People
Words: 2264
Rating: None
Pages: 9.1
submitted by: hoonux
If you think this paper shouldn't be here then
|
|
|
|
|
Signup & Login
|
|
|
If you don't currently have a login then Signup here
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-Written Papers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Custom Papers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
