Of the areas inhabited by non-literate peoples, Africa exhibits the greatest incidence of complex governmental structures. Not even the kingdoms of Peru and Mexico could mobilize resources and concentrate power more effectively than could some of these African monarchies, which are more to be compared with Europe of the Middle Ages than referred to the common conception of the ‘primitive state.

Anthropologist, Melville J. Herskovits, on the self governance of Africans at the onset of the slave trade era. “Before The Mayflower,” by Leroy Bennett Jr, 1963

Just read the first chapter of this book.  Really really really fascinating.

before the mayflower cover

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  1. nakaonwood posted this

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