Introduction to African Civilizations [Paperback]

John G. Jackson (Author), John Henrik Clarke (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1994 | ISBN-10: 080650420X | ISBN-13: 978-0806504209 | Edition: Edition Unstated

This is a unique and pioneering survey of the ancient and contemporary (1937) African world. Huggins views Africa and African accomplishments from a decidedly African-centered perspective. A strong supporter of Ethiopia and its fight against fascism, Huggins devotes a detailed chapter to Ethiopian history and the war with Italy. Huggins successfully wrote this book for students, independent study groups, and the general reader. This edition is not to be confused with John G. Jackson s later book which has the same title. Huggins was one of Jackson s mentors. Comparing the two books one can see how Jackson was influenced by Huggins, a seldom-noted member of the Harlem historians. With the republication of the original Introduction to African Civilizations, readers now have access to Willis N. Huggins his ability as an historian, his dedication as an activist, and to one of the more important works produced by a Black self-trained historian.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The picture we get today of Africa in past ages from the history taught in our schools is that Africans were savages and that, although Europeans invaded their lands and made slaves of them, they were in a way conferring a great favor on them, since they brought to them the blessings of Christian civilization," writes John G. Jackson.

With brilliantly objective scholarship, Jackson obliterates that picture in this book, and presents a picture of human heritage infinitely more rich, colorful, and varied than is generally understood. The book challenges all the standard approaches to African history and will, no doubt, disturb a large number of overnight "authorities" on Africa who will discover that they do not really know the depth of African history and the role that Africans played in creating early human societies.

Star-gods, moon-gods, sun gods, Osiris, the Zodiac, the lost continent of Atlantis--the impact of the myths and legends of ancient man upon human history is analyzed here. "Since the lore of astronomy and the calendar were the basis of much of the mythology, ritual, and religion of ancient Egypt, which in turn has profoundly affected all the great religious systems of later days," observes the author, "we deem it proper to discuss...these ancient African cults and creeds and their effects on other cultures."

In its panoramic view, from the dawn of prehistory to modern resurgent Africa, Introduction to African Civilizations challenges the parochial historian, devastates the theoretical pretensions of white supremacists, expands intellectual horizons. It is a fascinating book to be read and reread for pleasure and knowledge by the layman and the scholar.

"This is not just another book on African history. It is, in my opinion, one of the best books that has so far been written on the subject."--from the Introduction by John Henrik Clarke

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Citadel Press Carol Publishing Group;; Edition Unstated edition (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080650420X
• ISBN-13: 978-0806504209
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,375,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone interested in learning about Africa., April 29, 1999

By 

Edward Holt ([e-mail]) (New London, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to African Civilizations (Paperback)

Mr. Jackson was not just an able scholar, but he was a notable writer. This book, as are his others (I've read them all), is very easy to read, never going over the heads of those hardly acquainted with the many aspects of African history with which he deals. His chapters on "Egypt and the Evolution of Civilization" and "Africa and the Civilizing of Europe" are worth the entire price of the book. The introduction, by the late Dr. John Henrick Clarke, is one of the best I've read. Introduction to African Civilizations is well-documented, and is, in my opinion, a classic written by an academic giant.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, April 24, 2002

By 

Ahlaiah Toney (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction To African Civilizations (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the most excellent and comprehensive book dealing with African Civilizations as a whole to date. He spans the entire continent, using a time frame that spans to the beginning of civilization, and completely disembowels the Eurocentric view of the black culture.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MARVELOUS, November 5, 1999

By 

O. B. Makhubela (South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to African Civilizations (Paperback)

To be honest: to me any objective, well argued and unbiased book on the history of Africa and its civilizations deserves a 5 star rating. The distortion of African history especially by Europeans has been exposed by many objective and unbiased researchers. Indeed, the honourable Mr Jackson is one of those distinguished objective and unbiased authors of African history. This book is not simply about Black ego boosting - it is simply about setting the facts straight, presenting excellent arguments, and adducing convincing evidence in the form of references and archeological finds: he presents both the objective and the impartial sides, and argues so excellently against the distortion. From its introduction, the pre history up to the current state of Africa, the book is simply a marvel. Most impressed was I by the massive and shocking quotations.