In 2022, archaeologists working on a cluster of early medieval cemeteries near the southern coast of England found the remains of two individuals with West African ancestry whose burials were dated to the 7th century.
There was a fashion in the 1700s for military bands in Europe to include African musicians, usually playing the large timpani drums or the "Jingling Johnny" reputedly borrowed from the Ottoman Turks. Often they were clothed in 'exotic' turban, blossoming pantallons, etc. inspired supposedly by the Turks, again. However, while a handful of individual stories survive their origins are unclear.
Thank you, not surprised to learn that it dates back that far. Also interesting to see that the human habit of not calling a people by the names they had given themselves is that ancient- it was a recurring practice when Europeans encountered the various indigenous peoples of North America.
Yep, Black people, specifically Nubians (Northeastern of the continent) were venerated in Greek mythology. They even have literature made by Greek Poets. One of the most known of the poems is called the Aethiopica, one of the longest and most readable of the ancient Greek novels. They were present in Ancient Greece, Persia, and The Roman Empire.
Great insights. Africa was never cut from Europe, the Middle East, India and China. This idea always was quite Eurocentric.
There was a fashion in the 1700s for military bands in Europe to include African musicians, usually playing the large timpani drums or the "Jingling Johnny" reputedly borrowed from the Ottoman Turks. Often they were clothed in 'exotic' turban, blossoming pantallons, etc. inspired supposedly by the Turks, again. However, while a handful of individual stories survive their origins are unclear.
I meant to add that they were usually referred to as "Ethiopians" suggesting that this was used generically to refer to anyone from Africa.
"Aethiopians", "Ethiopians", or "Ethiops" were Greek labels to mention black people from the continent, especially those South of Egypt (Nubians)
Thank you, not surprised to learn that it dates back that far. Also interesting to see that the human habit of not calling a people by the names they had given themselves is that ancient- it was a recurring practice when Europeans encountered the various indigenous peoples of North America.
Yep, Black people, specifically Nubians (Northeastern of the continent) were venerated in Greek mythology. They even have literature made by Greek Poets. One of the most known of the poems is called the Aethiopica, one of the longest and most readable of the ancient Greek novels. They were present in Ancient Greece, Persia, and The Roman Empire.
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