Custom «They Came Before Columbus» Essay Paper Sample

As human beings we have had an insatiable hunger to find our roots as a people that would explain to us as far back as possible where we all came from. It has been something that was passed down to us by our ancestors and we still continue to seek for answers about where this world came from and where we all originally came from. Some of these answers have been found in different ways, from archeological findings of tombs, engravings in caves and even in the study of fossils and remains of early man. It is therefore obvious that the world would be shaken when a new school of thought is established that would make scholars and even ordinary people to question what we already know about our history as a people. All in all it is obvious that everyday somewhere in the world someone or a group of people is digging or studying something new that had not been seen before to try and come up with new information and evidence that would either confirm or contradict what we know about our ancestry.

In his book They Came Before Columbus, Dr. Ivan Sirtima clearly gives us a new school of thought to work around when questioning the presence of Africans and Native American’s in the Americas. The Mexican historian Peter Martyr gives compelling evidence of an African presence in the America in the New world long before the Spanish arrival. This he supports in various ways, first there is the unmistakable cultural similarities and analogies between the Native Americans and the Africans. Some of the traditional practices found even today in America can be traced back to West Africa meaning that that was where they originated from. There is also the unmistakable and well documented transportation of animals and plants between the two continents. From historical findings it is possible to trace some of these plants and fabrics found in America to West Africa where they were made originally. This would prove beyond reasonable doubt that Africans were the first people to bring them to the American continent. These items that were exchanged in the early days between the two continents were well documented and can be clearly traced back and forth between the early traders who were known to keep good journals and diaries that have been found in various parts of both America and Africa.

This book is an eye opener that lets one travel through time and gives one the chance to see the relevance of further developed research and the real truth about the origin and the very native inhibitors of the American continents. It is supported be great examples that are well researched and which are archived in other literary works that have been published over the years. The most dramatic example that really keeps one wondering and questioning what we know about the native inhibitors of America is obviously the evidence given of the ship building and launch to the sea that will always remain an integral part of human history. This took place in Mali in West Africa in 1310 which saw two hundred master boats and two hundred supply boats launched. There is no denying the fact that Africa was way ahead of the Americas by then when it came to the power of the sea thus it is certain that Africans could and did indeed land and establish themselves in the Americas long before the Spanish did. There is also unquestionable evidence that supports the fact that the Mandingo King did make an expedition in the year 1311 long before there was any documented attempt of a sea expedition by the Americans or the Spanish people. This great achievement by West African Africans only goes to show that there was an undeniable presence of Africans on the American continent in those early years long before the presence of the Spanish on the American continent.

The so called “invisible witnesses’ to the pre Colombian presence in the new world before the Spanish include the writings and messages that were written and scribbled on the walls of the caves and rocks that the Africans left in their expeditions and executions in America. These are historical monuments that have been well preserved by nature and which have been researched and studied by the best scientist the world has had over the years. The results of the findings are very surprising since they support the fact that there is the unmistaken natural and foul proof evidence to support the fact that there were Africans on the American continent long before Columbus set foot on the continent. Oral traditions that support this theory include the fact that there are numerous words that are today used and included in American tongues that have origins in Africa. These include but are not limited to, Kane meaning gold in the Sarakane dialect, among the Mandinga there include ghana, kane, kanine, ghanine, which in the pre-Colombian Carribeanrhime with goana, coana, guani, guanine and guanine.

It has been a challenge for many to accept the facts presented in this book to show that African presence was there on the American continent long before the presence of other tribes and natives on that continent. This is because for the longest time Africa has been behind the American continent in terms of development and other human issues like health care and provision of basic services to its people. It is only fair to question what happened or where did Africa go wrong if it had been that ahead some couple of hundred years back that today almost the whole continent basically has to rely on the Americas to assist even in the provision of basic needs for its people.