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Africa's Great Civilizations

Africa's Great Civilizations

In his 6-hour series, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. takes a look at the history of Africa, from the birth of humankind to the dawn of the 20th century. This is a breathtaking and personal journey through two hundred thousand years of history, from the origins, on the African continent, of art, writing, and civilization itself.
Commerce and the Clash of Civilizations | Hour Six
Episode
Commerce and the Clash of Civilizations | Hour Six

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The Swahili Coast
2:59
The Swahili Coast
For over 1,000 years, African merchants gathered on the Swahili coast, known as Azania.
The Country of Angola
5:18
The Country of Angola
A quarter of all slaves who crossed the Atlantic started from what is today Angola.
The City of Gondar
3:39
The City of Gondar
Travel to the ancient city of Gondar in Africa's Great Civilizations.
The City of M'banza-Kongo
2:42
The City of M'banza-Kongo
The Kingdom of Kongo was one of the largest and most powerful in the southern half Africa.
The City of Great Zimbabwe
2:36
The City of Great Zimbabwe
The Great Enclosure of Great Zimbabwe conveyed majesty, wealth, and architectural genius.
The Kingdom of Dahomey
3:15
The Kingdom of Dahomey
Dahomey contained a vast complex of royal palaces and a unique canon of art.
Afro Combs
1:48
Afro Combs
Did you know that afro combs were used in ancient African civilizations?
Ironworking
3:09
Ironworking
Did you know that the invention of ironworking has its roots in Africa?
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