WHY AFRICA WAS CALLED "UNCIVILIZED"

 

       When people think of civilization, they often think about places like Europe, the Middle East or Asia, they hardly ever consider African societies below the Sahara. For Westerners what qualifies a society to be viewed as civilised is that the society must be innovative, complex and influential. This write-up will discuss why Africa is not seen by Westerners as civilized.

          Civilization is commonly defined as the advancement of a complex sociopolitical structure capable of producing high levels of art or scientific discovery and influential technology. Though there are diverse definitions of Civilization, especially among historians and anthropologists, the average Westerner tend to adopt a narrow view of civilization. The exploits of Greece, Rome or the Colonial empires of Britain, France or Spain made the Westerners believe that these societies were civilized. Civilization was seen as an advanced human society that is seen as influential, innovative and very complex. In order words, popular culture portrays civilization based on visual evidence, that is; what we see. Unfortunately, because we have been trained to appreciate the visual evidence of civilization, the physical evidence seems to not be so known in Africa. Hence, one of the reasons Africa was called uncivilised. Christopher Ehret writes that "unfortunately, the most common application of "civilization" both by historians and by the public is fraught with value judgments. Societies and people are only too commonly described as "civilized" or "uncivilised" or to "have civilizations" or to lack it. Relying on the term "civilization" unbalances our understanding of history as well. In most textbooks of ancient history and world history, what topic get the principal attention? The short answer is, "civilizations". Those societies designated as civilizations are treated as if they were the centres of almost all innovation and all the really important developments. They tend to be viewed fallaciously, as culturally more complicated, artistically more accomplished, and technologically more advanced, than those societies that are labelled as "noncivilizations". The fact that many key technological innovations in human history began, and much great art was produced, in other, less stratified, non-urban societies is glossed over."

          Christopher Ehret explains that many interactive societies formed what became acknowledged as civilizations. This introduces another criterion used in identifying civilization by the Westerners, which is influence. African societies below the Sahara were lacking in the aspect of influence, this is one of the reasons, Africa did not qualify as civilized. The Mediterranean or the Middle East region is considered by many to be the cradle of civilization, the reason for this may align with Christopher Ehret's perspective of "many interactive societies". Mediterranean and the Middle East region from early in history had the privilege of access, the people in those regions were able to interact with many other people different from themselves. This does not imply that Africa was lacking in innovation or influence, the Sahara desert, the largest subtropical desert in the world became a geographical barrier. For instance, modern-day Turkey used to be incredibly influential because it spread iron technology to the world, however, according to multiple historical sources Africans below the Sahara were the first to achieve this human technology. Christopher Ehret writes that, "in the case of ironworking, the earliest dated sites in the world for the smelting of iron, going back 4000 years or possibly more years are located in the Central Africa Republic and neighbouring parts of Cameroon, in the middle of the continents". Scholars Zangato, Etienne and Augustine Holl also write that, "iron production activities (Central Africa)are documented to have taken place as early as 3000-2500 BC." Though Africans had independently invented this grounding-breaking technology there was a geographical barrier. Hence, Africa was not given credit for this advancement in human Civilization.

        Another instance where African achievement would have not been known to the world due to geographical barriers was in the case of Mansa Musa, the wealthiest Sovereign in human history. However, if Mansa Musa did not take his enormous entourage and a vast supply of gold to Mecca no one in the world would have known him and how wealthy he was. Despite the Mali empire being a complex civilized African State it had limited access to global innovation or recognition. The trip on Mansa Musa was said to have put Mali on the map, that is; given that African State recognition. 

      Another reason, Africa was seen as non-civilized was the aspect of complexity. African societies were not viewed as complex or structurally organized. Sociopolitical structures were largely seen as non-African, however careful observation reveals the complexities of various African States expressed by various African Scholars. Scholar PC Lloyd, "A common feature of almost all the kingdoms (African) discussed in this volume is in the complexity of their political structure. By definition, all are ruled by a supreme monarch, but not only are his advisers, with whom power is shared, recruited in diverse ways but often several distinct categories of advisers co-exist, within a single capital." Scholar Chancellor Williams reveals the opinion of European writers about African societies which depicts a democratic process in Africa, he writes "Now the explorer without knowing it, was reporting how Africa democracy worked. The explorer would have been surprised to know that (1) "king" in Africa meant something entirely different from what it meant in Europe or Asia; (2) this black king, far from "putting on airs" did not have the right to receive them, even socially, without the presence of at least three senior Elders. (3) to consider a petition to conduct explorations in the country. The full council of States had to be called, and this could not be done by the King without the advice of the First Minister." Scholar Chancellor explains that democracy existed very early in African history, this posits to be true especially when writers refer to some States in Africa are called Stateless societies or societies without Chiefs.