Understand The Power of african mind
I want to tell something about how Africans are powerful since time immemorial where they did wonderful things till today, many people in the world think that science, art and technology only originated from Greek, Rome and European Nations but Africa has also genuine history about the wonderful technology in their life. African continent was blessed with a lot of skills and knowledge which blows the whole world like in constructions, agriculture, technology and medicine. Let’s see how African mind is the best ever since dates back.
 |
| The Power of African Mind |
Construction of pyramids
The construction of pyramids in Africa dates back to around 2600 BC in Egypt, during the Old Kingdom period. This period saw the construction of the first true pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, built using stone blocks that were cut and polished into smooth, flat-sided shapes. The construction of pyramids continued throughout Egypt’s history, with perhaps the most famous being the Great Pyramid of Giza which was constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BC. It was the largest of the three pyramids at Giza and is still considered a marvel of engineering and construction.The construction of pyramids wasn’t just limited to Egypt, however. In Sudan, the ancient kingdom of Kush built many pyramids, including the Nubian Pyramids at Meroe. These pyramids were constructed over a period of several centuries starting in the 8th century BC and were typically smaller than the Egyptian pyramids, but were constructed using similar techniques. Other pyramids were also constructed outside of Egypt, such as the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, which was built by the Mesoamerican civilization of Teotihuacan around 100 AD.The construction of pyramids in Africa and around the world was a testament to the ingenuity and skill of ancient civilizations, and continues to be a topic of fascination and study today.
African technology
African technology during the ancient world was highly sophisticated and advanced, with many innovations that helped shape various aspects of human life. Some of the notable technological advancements that originated from ancient Africa include:
Ironworking
The technology to smelt iron ore and produce iron tools and weapons was developed independently in many parts of Africa, including the Nok culture in Nigeria around 500 BC and the Bantu-speaking peoples in central and southern Africa around 400 AD.
Agriculture
In ancient Africa, farmers used advanced techniques such as soil conservation, terracing, and irrigation systems to improve crop yields and sustainably manage the land. This led to the development of large-scale farming and trade networks across the continent.
Medicine
Ancient African healers and herbalists developed a wide range of remedies using native plants, many of which are still used in modern medicine. They also performed complex surgical procedures, such as trephination, to treat head injuries. Furthermore, Africans discovered ouabain, capsicum, physostigmine and reserpine. Medical procedures performed in ancient Africa before they were performed in Europe include vaccination, autopsy, limb traction and broken bone setting, bullet removal, brain surgery, skin grafting, filling of dental cavities, installation of false teeth, what is now known as Caesarean section, anesthesia and tissue cauterization (3). In addition, African cultures preformed surgeries under antiseptic conditions universally when this concept was only emerging in Europe (2).
Architecture
African architects and builders used advanced techniques to construct structures such as the Great Pyramids in Egypt, the stone-walled cities of Zimbabwe, and the stelae of Aksum in Ethiopia. Various past African societies created sophisticated built environments. Of course, there are the engineering feats of the Egyptians: the bafflingly raised obelisks and the more than 80 pyramids. The largest of the pyramids covers 13 acres and is made of 2.25 million blocks of stone (3). Later, in the 12th century and much farther south, there were hundreds of great cities in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. There, massive stone complexes were the hubs of cities. One included a 250-meter-long, 15,000-ton curved granite wall (9). The cities featured huge castlelike compounds with numerous rooms for specific tasks, such as iron-smithing. In the 13th century, the empire of Mali boasted impressive cities, including Timbuktu, with grand palaces, mosques and universities
Mathematics and astronomy
African mathematicians and astronomers made significant contributions to the development of geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. They also developed advanced methods for observing the stars and predicting celestial events. Several ancient African cultures birthed discoveries in astronomy. Many of these are foundations on which we still rely, and some were so advanced that their mode of discovery still cannot be understood. Egyptians charted the movement of the sun and constellations and the cycles of the moon. They divided the year into 12 parts and developed a yearlong calendar system containing 365 ¼ days (3). Clocks were made with moving water and sundial-like clocks were used (3). The ancient Egyptians considered a circle to have 360 degrees and estimated Π at 3.16 (3). Eight thousand years ago, people in present-day Zaire developed their own numeration system, as did Yoruba people in what is now Nigeria. The Yoruba system was based on units of 20 (instead of 10) and required an impressive amount of subtraction to identify different numbers. Scholars have lauded this system, as it required much abstract reasoning.
Navigation
Most of us learn that Europeans were the first to sail to the Americas. However, several lines of evidence suggest that ancient Africans sailed to South America and Asia hundreds of years before Europeans. Thousands of miles of waterways across Africa were trade routes. Many ancient societies in Africa built a variety of boats, including small reed-based vessels, sailboats and grander structures with many cabins and even cooking facilities. The Mali and Songhai built boats 100 feet long and 13 feet wide that could carry up to 80 tons (2). Currents in the Atlantic Ocean flow from this part of West Africa to South America. Genetic evidence from plants and descriptions and art from societies inhabiting South America at the time suggest small numbers of West Africans sailed to the east coast of South America and remained there (2). Contemporary scientists have reconstructed these ancient vessels and their fishing gear and have completed the transatlantic voyage successfully. Around the same time as they were sailing to South America, the 13th century, these ancient peoples also sailed to China and back, carrying elephants as cargo.
Furthermore, the technological innovations of ancient Africa were diverse and pioneering, and helped lay the foundation for many of the technologies that we use today. Apart from African technology we have many potential and worthy people in our continent who can do huge advancement in our continent but still African people don’t trust them instead they think we should be supported by other continents but let’s believe in our people, wealth and support ours.
