Lost kingdoms of Africa: Zimbabwe part 2

Later kingdoms existed after the fall of this one, Barbosa wrote in the 16th that the king of Benametapa was a "lord of an exceeding great country". If we are to consider this an exaggeration then we should see it as simply a great country as opposed to an "exceeding great country"

European intervention helped lead to the decline of African kingdoms before destruction by colonialism, if they didn't have the military might to take over through out right force they were strong enough with their gun powder to meddle in politics and trade routes. Livingstone said in 1856 "the only evidence of greatness possessed by his successor is having about a hundred wives, when he dies, a disputed succession and much fighting are expected."

"Cloaked in darkness since medieval times, the spectacular ruins of the once dazzling, southern African kingdom of Great Zimbabwe posed a thorny dilemma for white settlers who claimed to have 'discovered' the region a mere hundred years before. Refusing to believe the massive, finely hewn walls could be the product of native culture, white "experts" eager to claim the land for Europeans credited the ancient city to everyone from wandering Phoenicians to the biblical Queen of Sheba. In so doing, they began a long insidious European tradition of willful misinterpretation of Africa's past, until, in the ultimate irony, the place where human history began would become a place with no history of its own.

Now, trek inland to the remote site of Great Zimbabwe, a fabulous "lost city," which reached its glory in the 14th century. Then, sift the sands of time to uncover the equally splendid culture of Africa's Swahili Coast. The fabulously wealthy center of the thriving gold and ivory trades until the 16th century, its cities now lie all but forgotten, buried under centuries of indifference. Reclaiming their past from a long tradition of racial prejudice and neglect, the descendants of these lost cultures are only now discovering the extraordinary achievements of Africa's indigenous civilizations.

Actor Sam Waterston hosts this ten-part series that revisits ancient cultures on four continents. Dramatic re-enactments recall key historic events, and attractive location footage provides viewers with interesting information about the featured cultures. This episode looks at some of the trade routes established by the ancient, sub-Saharan tribes of Africa."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• south
• Africa
• ruins
• greatness
• civilizations
• destruction
• chaos
• savagery
• lost
• glory
• tragedy
• apartheid
• European
• Boer
• negro

[filmtress]

Okay, I know we have a rich history. But did any body feel like reaching through this video and slapping those 'Africans for taking those white asses to our shit?! THEY JUST GAVE IT AWAY!

African: "Oh, great white one, do you want the tour or just our ancient treatures?"

White Brits: "Just the gold you filthy pygmies". And your women", and your artifacts...nevermind we'll just move here and deny you are history. And we'll rename you N*GGER!"

When they should have used poison darts.

[krystenic]

oh yeah, we africans are sometimes too weak when it comes to deal with mister whiteman...our main error, in our whole history, was to think that white men are like us(spirituality, compassion..) but they are just materialistic and deceitful people...

[taiwanjohn88]

Great upload, thanks! Is there a part 3?

[Chocwinx]

I dont know why white people always deny african history our continent mama africa is rich you cannot buy gold , silver , metals for making guns and bombs even computers without mama AFRICA i wonder why the only african history they teach is all about egyptians

[dwolfe71]

Queen of Sheba white??? loooooooooooooool racist scientist  that guy was!!

[dwolfe71]

@filmtress agree 100%

[umvhu]

@Shambayamiti I look forward with great hope for a new dawn! I see so many people with unchallenged ability and potential, but something is lacking, I don't know exactly what but that first light of the new dawn has not yet appeared. I hope to see it before I cast off this carcass.

[Shambayamiti]

@umvhu hahaha......your words not only leave a record for your ancestors to groan in.....there's a future that was written about that happens only in books....as in...read the bible and know that it keeps the secret of what world should exist in the absence of idiots that want to die for land....i.e. Colombus and his westward goons, or anyone that ran away from their homes to discover that the sun rises and sets on the...drum roll......West. New Dawn anyone?!

[umvhu]

@TemplarX2 Actually in comparison to Australia's treatment of its native people the Africans did rather well (we're talking in relative terms here) 

[umvhu]

@filmtress The gold fairly near to the surface in the area had been mined out about the time of the collapse of Great Zimbabawe. This isn't a fact, but an assumption based on what little evidence there is. There is a mine to the south called Renko mine which I think still operates, I believe it goes down quite a few hundred feet, evidence of shallow mining and refining is dotted around the same area

[umvhu]

@TemplarX2 Well having learnt to command the language so well, what is your knowledge of Southern African history pre white invasion?

[TemplarX2]

@umvhu The correct word is modicum. You can't even write in your own language properly. How can you argue something as subtle and obscure as African history?