Sign-In
Cart
How Africa Built the West: The Forgotten African Origins and Contributions to Western Civilization
Paperback
Series: Africa Truth
African HistoryAncient History GeneralGeneral World History
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jun 30 2026
Pages: 180
Weight: 0.50
Height: 0.45 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
What if one of history's greatest stories has never been fully told?
When people think about the foundations of Western civilization, they often think of Ancient Greece, Rome, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. Rarely do they think of Africa.
Yet Africa helped shape many of the institutions, ideas, resources, and cultural traditions that influenced the Western world.
In How Africa Built the West, historian Frederick Amakom takes readers on an extraordinary journey across thousands of years of history, revealing the often-overlooked connections between Africa and the rise of Western civilization.
Travel from the banks of the Nile to the libraries of Timbuktu. Follow the caravan routes of the Sahara, the ports of the Mediterranean, the classrooms of early Christian theologians, and the coffeehouses of Europe. Discover how African civilizations contributed to engineering, mathematics, medicine, Christianity, commerce, agriculture, education, music, and global culture.
Drawing on archaeology, ancient texts, manuscript traditions, and modern historical scholarship, this book presents a balanced, evidence-based account that challenges common assumptions without resorting to sensational claims.
Inside this book, you will discover:
- How Ancient Egypt influenced the Mediterranean world.
- The African Church Fathers who helped shape Christian theology.
- Why Egyptian monasticism helped prepare the way for Europe's universities.
- How West African gold fueled medieval commerce.
- Why Timbuktu became one of Africa's greatest centers of learning.
- How North Africa and Al-Andalus helped preserve and transmit classical knowledge.
- The African origins of coffee and other globally important crops.
- How African labor, expertise, and creativity helped shape the Atlantic world.
- The profound influence of African music, culture, and innovation on modern Western society.
- Why Africa continues to help shape the world today.
This is not a book that claims Africa built the West alone.
It is a book that demonstrates, with historical evidence, that Western civilization emerged through centuries of interaction among many civilizations-and that Africa was one of its indispensable contributors.
Whether you are a student of history, a teacher, a pastor, a researcher, or simply a curious reader, How Africa Built the West offers a compelling new perspective on one of humanity's greatest stories.
The history of the West cannot be fully understood without Africa.
Also from
Amakom, Frederick
The Black Peoples of the Bible: The Untold Story of Africa's Nations, Kingdoms, and People in Scripture
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Benin Kingdom: The Rise, Glory, Fall, and Enduring Legacy of One of Africa's Greatest Civilizations
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Missing Books of the Bible: Lost Scriptures, Hidden Traditions, and the Making of the Canon
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Before the Desert Spoke Arabic: Black North Africa, Arabization and the Hidden History of North Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Netherlands' Colonial Report Card: Trade, Slavery and the Dutch Legacy in Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Igbo Republic: How Igboland Works. How the Igbo Built a Civilization Without Kings or Empire
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Germany's Colonial Report Card: Genocide, Empire and the Forgotten German Legacy in Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Racism in European Football: Black Players, White Crowds, Monkey Chants and the Crisis of Modern Football
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
China's Colonial Playbook in Africa: Debt, Development and the New Scramble for Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Alcohol, Sin, and the Bible: Is Drinking Alcohol a Sin? What the Bible Really Says About Wine, Drinking, and the Christian Life
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Safe Steps in South Africa: A Hard-Hitting, Practical Guide for Visitors Navigating High-Crime Environments
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Riches of Africa: Why One of the Richest Continents on Earth Is Still Called Poor
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Black Sexual Prowess: The Truth Behind the World's Most Persistent Sexual Stereotype
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Timbuktu: The Rise, Glory, and Legacy of Africa's Greatest City of Learning That Amazed The World
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Mandingos: The Rise, Glory, and Legacy of West Africa's Greatest Civilization
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
BLACK AFRICANS vs BLACK AMERICANS: The Divide, the Myths, the Stereotypes-and How We See Each Other
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
How Corruption Works in Africa: Inside the Systems That Keep People and Nations Poor
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Nigeria: A VERY RELIGIOUS NATION, A VERY UNGODLY PEOPLE: Why Faith Failed To Restrain Evil In The Country
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Nigerian Advantage: How Nigerians Became One Of America's Most Successful And Educated Immigrant Communities
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Nigeria: OIL, POWER & POVERTY: The Hidden Forces Behind the Nation's Wealth
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Ashanti People: Origins, Empire, Gold, Power, War and the Slave Trade in West Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
France's Colonial Report Card: Civilization, Control and the Francophone Legacy in Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Britain's Colonial Report Card: What the British Empire Left Behind in Africa
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Belgium's Colonial Report Card: Congo, Extraction and the Ghosts of Empire
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
The Case for Creation: Why Life Could Not Have Come From Chance or Evolution
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Where Do True Christians Go When They Die?: Heaven, Earth, Paradise, or the Resurrection? What the Bible Actually Teaches
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Why Does God Allow Disasters?: God, Creation, Natural Disasters, the Fall, and the Mystery of Suffering
Amakom, Frederick
Paperback
Also in
Ancient History General
The Power of Place: Rulers and Their Palaces, Landscapes, Cities, and Holy Places
Rollason, David
Hardcover
The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom
Hankins, James
Guelzo, Allen C.
Hardcover
The Fall of Republics: A History from Ancient Carthage to the American Constitution
Madden, Thomas F.
Hardcover
Story of the World, Vol. 1: History for the Classical Child: Ancient Times
Bauer, Susan Wise
Paperback
The Great Remembering: Powerful Ancient Practices--And the New Science Bringing Them Back
Cohen, June
Hardcover
A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun
Clements, Jonathan
Paperback
The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archaeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing
Hammer, Joshua
Paperback
The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization
Rees, Owen
Hardcover
Fiber Craft Heritage: Easy-To-Learn Textile Techniques from the Stone Age to Today, with 52 Try-It Projects
Fischer, Doris
Hardcover
The Shortest History of the Dinosaurs: The 230-Million-Year Story of Their Time on Earth
Black, Riley
Paperback
Big Dinosaur Coloring Book: Dinosaur Gifts for 3 Year Olds - Paperback Coloring to
Coloring Funny, Family
Paperback
The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome
Bauer, Susan Wise
Hardcover
The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol I: From Antiquity to the Caesars, 14 A.D.
Black, Conrad
Hardcover
The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World
Wisnom, Selena
Hardcover
Stories of the Stones: Imagining Prehistory in Britain, Ireland and Brittany
Robichaud, Paul
Hardcover
Mothers of Invention: A History of Creativity from the Greek Muses (Large Print Edition)
McTier, Moiya
Paperback
Death by Astonishment: Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug (the Dmt Book)
Gallimore, Andrew R.
Hardcover
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light Through Britain's Ancient Places
Robertson, Fiona
Hardcover
Ancient and Medieval Siege Weapons: A Fully Illustrated Guide To Siege Weapons And Tactics
Nossov, Konstantin
Paperback
Slaving States: From West Africa to the Ancient Mediterranean
Rabinowitz, Adam
Fentress, Elizabeth
Hardcover
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol I: From Antiquity to the Caesars, 14 A.D.
Black, Conrad
Paperback
The Secret World of Denisovans: The Epic Story of the Ancient Cousins to Sapiens and Neanderthals
Condemi, Silvana
Savatier, François
Hardcover
The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archaeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing
Hammer, Joshua
Hardcover
The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World
Wisnom, Selena
Paperback
Magicians of the Gods: Updated and Expanded Edition - Sequel to the International Bestseller Fingerprints of the Gods
Hancock, Graham
Paperback
The Secret World of Denisovans: The Epic Story of the Ancient Cousins to Sapiens and Neanderthals
Savatier, François
Condemi, Silvana
Paperback
World History: A Visual Journey From The Dawn Of Civilization To The 21st Century
Alive, History Brought
Paperback
Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion
Taylor, Michael
Paperback
In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish from Neolithic Times to the Coming of the English
McCaffrey, Carmel
Eaton, Leo
Paperback
The First Fossil Hunters: Dinosaurs, Mammoths, and Myth in Greek and Roman Times
Mayor, Adrienne
Paperback
Japanese Legends: Samurai, Spirits, Myths & the Sacred Stories of Japan
Alive, History Brought
Hardcover
Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation
McConnon, Andres
McConnon, Aili
Paperback
Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Ancient Quiche Maya Volume 29
Goetz, Delia
Morley, Sylvanus G.
Paperback
Nineveh and Its Remains: With an account of a visit to the Chaldæan Christians of Kurdistan, and the Yezidis, or devil-worshippers; and an enqu
Layard, Austen Henry
Paperback
The Codes of Hammurabi and Moses with Copious Comments, Index, and Bible References
W. W. Davies Ph. D., Ph. D.
W. W. Davies Ph. D.
Paperback
Battles of the Bible Illustrated Atlas
Haskew, Michael E.
Jestice, Phyllis G.
Dougherty, Martin J.
Hardcover
Celtic History and Mythology Explained: Ancient Legends, Heroic Tales, and the Battles that Forged a People
Torbert, Sidney K.
Paperback
Mythology of Mesopotamia: Fascinating Insights, Myths, Stories & History From The World's Most Ancient Civilization. Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, P
Brought Alive, History
Paperback
Mythology of Mesopotamia: Fascinating Insights, Myths, Stories & History From The World's Most Ancient Civilization. Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, P
Brought Alive, History
Hardcover
An Illustrated Guide to Samurai History and Culture: From the Age of Musashi to Contemporary Pop Culture
Blair, Gavin
Hardcover
The Ethiopian Bible History: oldest and most complete known book in the world (Canons and Books)
Benedict, Beauty
Paperback
The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate Volume 1
Walton, John H.
Paperback
Mesoamerican History: A Captivating Guide to Four Ancient Civilizations that Existed in Mexico - The Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec Civilization
History, Captivating
Hardcover
The Stoicism Book of Quotes: Over 200 Inspirational Quotations from the Greatest Stoic Philosophers
Yasenka, Kortney
Benas, Nick
Hardcover
Christians Reading Classics: An Introduction to Greco-Roman Classics from Homer to Boethius
Williams, Nadya
Paperback
1st Century Radical: The Shadowy Origins of the Man who Became Known as Jesus Christ
Jacques, Michael Calum
Paperback
...and forgive them their debts: Lending, Foreclosure and Redemption From Bronze Age Finance to the Jubilee Year
Hudson, Michael
Paperback
Ancient Warfare Illustrated Atlas: Strategies, Tactics & Combat Skills
Rice, Rob S.
Jestice, Phyllis G.
Anglim, Simon
Hardcover
Return of the Fallen Ones: Nephilim Histories, the Antediluvian World, Anunnaki Chronology and the Coming Cataclysm
Breshears, Jason M.
Paperback
...and Forgive Them Their Debts: Lending, Foreclosure and Redemption from Bronze Age Finance to the Jubilee Year
Hudson, Michael
Hardcover
When God Had a Wife: The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition
Picknett, Lynn
Prince, Clive
Paperback
365 Days of World History: A Timeline of Daily Lessons from Ancient Empires to Modern Times - With 1000+ Facts and Challenges for Curious Minds
Mode, Airplane
Lee, Dae
Paperback
Stand, Columbia: A History of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1754-2004
McCaughey, Robert
Hardcover