My concern here from the stand point of critical history or history from the bottom-up is that while I do recognize the structural magnificence of the pyramids, the coliseum, and the Parthenon etc. etc. as phenomenally impressive edifice, I have concern that the history of how they were constructed shows that the kind of labor used for the construction was an abuse of the ordinary citizens. Of course one can dismiss it as late Professor Milton Friedman said about the continue suffering of some people amidst American prosperity, "You cannot make a omelet without breaking an egg." Case closed.
In Ancient Athens, there were many other priorities from the perspective of the poor, slaves, and ordinary people than building the Parthenon, just as in Egypt or Sudan, the pyramids were more a way of immortalizing the elites than a major existential priority or concern of the masses.
This does not take away the fact that the buildings were impressive structures but if we allow that to go quietly, it may mean an endorsement of an approach to development that is more elite or oppressor-driven, than an expression of genuine concern to address the needs of the people at the bottom of the pyramid, the "wretched of the earth," or those treated as "disposable and expendable."
Even as we celebrate precolonial Africa, we have to remember those on the "other side."
Samuel
Samuel Zalanga, Ph.D.
Bethel University
Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Reconciliation Studies,
Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, #24, Saint Paul, MN 55112.
Office Phone: 651-638-6023
On Fri, Mar 2, 2018 at 7:23 PM, Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso <jumoyin@gmail.com> wrote:
"..." I fuse Nubia and Egypt for specific reasons. The Nubians influenced Egypt and vice versa.In fact hieroglyphics itself was of Nubian origin according to scholar/travelers like Diodorus Siculus and even the archeological record. There are also many examples of Nubian artifacts and techniques being classified as Egyptian.
Prof Emeagwali
Not to mention the over one thousand pyramids still standing in today's Sudan as further evidence!
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