African Palaces Older Than European Castles | Untold History

Описание: Did you know the Kingdom of Aksum was a global power while Europe was still in the Dark Ages? Or that Great Zimbabwe was built with stone engineering so advanced it didn’t need mortar? In this documentary, we explore the ancient African civilizations that built massive empires long before many famous European castles existed.

In this video, you will discover:
Kush (Sudan): Home of the powerful Kandake warrior queens
Aksum (Ethiopia): The "Silicon Valley" of the ancient world
Great Zimbabwe: One of Africa's most impressive royal stone complexes
Benin Empire (Nigeria): Marvels of urban planning and the Benin Bronzes
Timbuktu (Mali): A global center of trade and ancient libraries

We also address misconceptions about African architecture and explore how colonization erased much of this history from textbooks. This is a story of innovation, governance, and resilience.


Chapters
0:00 – Introduction: European Castles vs African Palaces
0:55 – Palaces Were More Than Royal Homes
1:20 – Sudan (Kerma & Meroë) Where the Kandake queens ruled with absolute authority.
2:00 – Aksum: Global Trade Hub
2:10 – Great Zimbabwe: Stone Palaces and Trade
3:40 – Benin: Lost Palace & Bronzes
5:00 – Why This History Was Minimized
5:45 – Timbuktu: Wealth & Wisdom
6:20 – Why This History Matters Today


Sources & Further Reading:
UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Great Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe, Fasil Ghebbi, Abomey
Peter Garlake, Great Zimbabwe
Derek A. Welsby, The Kingdom of Kush
Basil Davidson, Africa in History
John Hunwick, Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire
British Museum: Research on Benin Bronzes



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#AfricanHistory #AncientCivilizations #HiddenHistory #GreatZimbabwe #Aksum #BeninEmpire #Timbuktu #Meroe