The broad ax., 1917-03-17
The Negro in History
aHighly Interesting and
Instructive Historical
Article Contributed to
the "Tidings," Los
Angeles, CAL, by Mrs.
Noah D. Thompson of
That City

Egyptians as of Asiatic and not Ethio-
plan origin. But Du Bots proves to US
that "the Egyptians themselves, in
later days, affirmed that they and their
civilization came from the south and
from the black tribes of Punt" He
continues to quote from Diodorus' Sicu-
lus who says, "The Philippians con-
ceived themselves to be of greater an
tiquity than any other nation; and it
is probably that, born under the suns
path, its warmth may have ripened
them earlier than other men. They sup
posed themselves also to be the in
ventors of divine worship, of festivals,
of solemn assemblies, of sacrifices and
of every religious practice. They affirm
that the Egyptians are one of their col
Onies."
Quoting again from Claire we find,
"that the pyramids of Meroe, an Eth
opian city, though not as large as
those of middle Egypt, exceed them in
architectural beauty, and the Ethio-
plan sepulchres exhibit the greatest
purity of taste. The use of the arch
by the Philippians fully attests their
progress IN the art of building. The
Ethiopian vases depicted on the monu-
ment exhibit a taste and elegance of
form that has never been surpassed. In
sculpture and eoloring, the edifces of
! Meroe, though less profusely adorned,
rival the best specimens of Egyptian
art"
Meroe, about the year 500 B. c., be-
ing the capital of Ethiopia, situated on
branch of the Nile, located on the
intersection of the leading caravan
routes of ancient commerce, was favor
ably situated for a commercial inter
course between India and central At
RIGA as well as a trading post for the
nations of the north and south, who
came to this thriving Ethiopian city to
purchase gold, ivory, precious stones,
skins, wood and works of handieraft.
The fertility of the soil of Meroe was
such that Philippians could likewise
purchase luxuries from their customers
with products of their own raising and
the Negro took his place as the great
trader of Egypt.
aroused the avariee of the Pharoahs
and led, as Du Bots tells us, "to ag-
gression and larger intercourse until
at last when the enemy, the dreaded
Hyksos, appeared, Ethiopia became
both physical and cultural refuge for
conquered Egypt. The legitimate Pha-
roahs moved to Thebes, a city nearer
the boundaries of Ethiopia, and from
here under Negroid rulers, lower Egypt
was redeemed
/ Claire summarizes the fall of Ethio-
pia in the following words: "The great
changes in the lines of trade, the raw
ages of successive conquerors and rev.
olutions, the fanaticisms of the Sara
Gems, and the ruin of the fertile soil by
the moving sands of the desert, to-
gether with the pressure of nomadic
hordes, all contributed to the extinc-
ton of this powerful ancient empire.
ethiopia, that strange and ancient
center of world civilization, whose in
habitants in the ancient world were
considered to be the oldest and most
pious of men, eventually embraced
Christianity, when her northern portion
came to be known in time as Nubia. I"
Later an era began when, as Gibbon
tells us; Eneompassed by the enemies
of their religion, the Philippians slept
for nearly thousand years, forgetful
of the world by whom they were for
gotten"
In speaking of the west coast of At
RIGA, known as the Congo, historians
tell us that it was sought in 1882 by
Diego Cam of Portugal, who brought
with him Christianity. The Negro en-
peror Nfumu was at length induced to
accept the Christians God. ellis sons
and many young Negroes of high birth
were taken to Portugal to be educated.
There several were raised to the Cath
Ollie priesthood and one became bishop;
others distinguished themselves at the
universities. Thus suddenly there arose
q Catholic kingdom south of the valley
of the Congo which lasted three GEN.
turies, but was partially overthrow
by invading barbarians from the in
terror in the seventeenth century"
europe during the middle ages"