In the non-African world, there is not much familiarity
with the emergence and development of early African societies,
except for some recognition of a few words such as "Bantu" or "Swahili." This
is partly due to the result of a lack of surviving documentation and materials; partly the
lack of serious investigation by scholars; and partly racial bias. The
best documented of the early African societies are the early kingdoms of Northeastern
Africa (Axum, Nubia, Kush and Meroë). This is a result
of these societies' contact with Egypt and the Red Sea trading
routes. Scholars do not know much conclusively about most of sub-Saharan Africa
before the first or second century ce. Please feel free to review my lecture
notes (rtf file) on early African societies. You
may send me any suggested corrections or additions.
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