The continuing growth of confederations and federations throughout African history was interrupted by the invasion of the West. The protectorates undermined the existing legacies, political systems, and social lives of the Africans. Before the West’s invasion of Africa, the local bequests were building modern schemes of governance and education structures. Besides, the long-distance trade blocks throughout the continent had significantly changed cultural perceptions. However, colonization destroyed the African culture, irreversibly changed its history, and introduced new systems which glorified Europe and its achievements. Paleontological discoveries have unearthed further information which shows the prospect of an African complex system of evolution over the years.
In the analysis of Egypt, some potent cultural themes which still reverberate through history can be discovered. As a result, there has been extensive research conducted by scholars to understand the fascinating elements such as hieroglyphics, religion, and pyramids. Recent studies have discovered the origin of primary theories in the historical past, such as metaphysical and materialist theories (Wenke 280). Within these publications, the focus is on the archeological data about several significant features in Egypt’s transformation into a complex society.
The evidence proves that lower and upper cultural integration is a definitive process in the country’s evolution. Useful insights from these discoveries provide a tool for the sequential assessment of the evolution of Egypt. Additionally, it offers the materials for comparison to other civilizations and their internal dynamics. Ancient Egypt in the pharaonic times is immensely enlightening in the reconstruction of the African past.
Generally, from a paleontological viewpoint, Africa is the cradle of human origin, where the first set of primates evolved into bipedal walking. The upright man was a savannah dweller whose brain capacity was advanced and who could use primitive tools and language. However, paleontology, as any other cultural discussion sphere, has a strong western influence and bias. The construction of progressive historical analysis uses such data as radiocarbon dating, ancient texts, and artifacts variations.
In particular, the central geographical position of the continent has equally been argued by historians to the point of ancestry before migrations. Moreover, the analysis of historic linguistics provides useful information on people of different languages by determining certain words’ prevalence (Spear 310). Historians frequently focus on establishing a historical relationships among different groups all over the continent. Other relevant sources include oral traditions since they constituted the primary mode of data preservation before colonial times. The particular elements analyzed clearly position Africa’s history worthy of rebuilding.
The African Rift Valley has yielded several fossils which pivoted the primary examination of human existence and evolutionary pathway. The African Rift is an excellent site for the transformation of various species for several reasons. It is a catch basin for rainfall in an arid climate and has undergone extensive climate change. The place forms an intersection between tropical rain forests and Savannah ecosystems, thus being home to countless communal ape species. Towards the end of prehistoric Africa in the Neolithic period, modern human ancestors’ nomadic bands began communal settlement. Some of the most prominent discoveries include the Neanderthal and, finally, Zinjanthropus, in Olduvai Gorge. The excavated elements prove the significant role Africa played in the evolution process and advancement of humankind.
The reconstruction of the continent’s history is hugely dependent on archaeological support and analysis of prehistoric cultures. The studies focused on Africa have grown at an impressive rate from the onset of the Second World War, and history is gradually being reconstructed. From prehistoric times, Africa has been characterized by continuity, creativity, and innovation, as seen in ancient Egypt. Its comparison with the other continents elevates it as having the longest historical record of the human past. The cross-examination of the fossils and other artifacts is essential to establish a chronology, which is the most crucial tool for historical mapping. As such, the reestablishment of Africa’s past is entirely dependent on paleontology.
Work Cited
Wenke, Robert J. “The evolution of early Egyptian civilization: Issues and evidence.” Journal of World Prehistory, vol. 5, no. 3, 1991, pp. 279-329.