by Molefi Kete Asante

Traditional Eurocentric thought assumes that Greece was the origin of civilisation. This book dispels this and other myths by showing that there is a body of knowledge that preceded Greek philosophy. The author documents how the great pyramids were built in 2800 BC, 2,100 years before Greek civilisation. The popular myth of Hippocrates being the father of medicine is dispelled by the fact that Hippocrates studied the works of Imhotep, the true father of medicine, and mentioned his name in his Hippocratic oath. Eleven famous African scholars who preceded Greek philosophers are profiled: Ptahhotep, Kagemni, Duauf, Amenhotep, Amenemope, Imhotep, Amenemhat, Merikare, Sehotepibre, Khunanup, and Akhenaten. These scholars' ideas on a variety of topics are discussed, including the emergence of science and reason, the moral order, books and education, and the clash of classes.