History in Black: African-Americans in Search of an Ancient Past

by Shavit,Yaacov

• ISBN13: 9780714650623
• ISBN10: 0714650625
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-09-03
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The development of Afrocentric historical writing is explored in this study which traces this recording of history from the Hellenistic-Roman period to the 19th century. Afrocentric writers are depicted as searching for the unique primary source of "culture" from one period to the next. Such passing on of cultural traits from the "ancient model" from the classical period to the origin of culture in Egypt and Africa is shown as being a product purely of creative history.

Author Biography

Yaacov Shavit is Professor of the History of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv University.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgements	xxi
Introduction: Calling on Our Forefathers -- History as Redemption and Resurrection	1	(15)
The Foundations of Afrocentric Universal History	16	(20)
The Revival of Ancient Historical Traditions in Black America: The Four Revised `Ancient Models'	36	(18)
Making-up Stories of Egypt	54	(16)
The Egyptian Tyranny over Greece in the Bronze Age	70	(20)
The Glory that Was Egypt: The Heliocentric Theory	90	(19)
The Second Ancient Model: A History of Debt	109	(18)
Ancient Egypt and the Foundation of Western Philosophy and Science	127	(18)
The Quest for Ancient Egypt's Black Identity	145	(26)
The Curse of Canaan and the Black Presence in the Bible	171	(19)
The `Noble Ethiopian': Symbol and Reality	190	(11)
Egypt, Africa and the Nile Valley as an Afrocentric Dilemma	201	(16)
From India to Ethiopia (Kush): The Invention of the Fictitious Kushite Empire	217	(13)
Black Columbus and Black Natives in the New World	230	(18)
Conclusion	248	(14)
Appendix: Josephus' Guilt and the Afrocentric Misuse of His Account	262	(8)
Notes	270	(91)
Bibliography	361	(44)
Index	405