Isaac Samuel
@rhaplord.bsky.social
Finance | History | Trance
Patreon http://patreon.com/isaacsamuel64
Substack https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/
Patreon http://patreon.com/isaacsamuel64
Substack https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/
4)
population density of tsetse-infested zone was high precisely b'se agric. productivity was high
Despite the modern obsession with using technology (plows) as a proxy for agricultural productivity, historical evidence suggests they weren't correlated
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/acemoglu-i...
population density of tsetse-infested zone was high precisely b'se agric. productivity was high
Despite the modern obsession with using technology (plows) as a proxy for agricultural productivity, historical evidence suggests they weren't correlated
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/acemoglu-i...
December 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
4)
population density of tsetse-infested zone was high precisely b'se agric. productivity was high
Despite the modern obsession with using technology (plows) as a proxy for agricultural productivity, historical evidence suggests they weren't correlated
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/acemoglu-i...
population density of tsetse-infested zone was high precisely b'se agric. productivity was high
Despite the modern obsession with using technology (plows) as a proxy for agricultural productivity, historical evidence suggests they weren't correlated
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/acemoglu-i...
3)
On urbanization, many of the largest and oldest cities in pre-colonial Africa were located in the tsetse infested regions of southern Nigeria and the East African coast, ie: the Yoruba & Swahili cities
with higher population densities than those found in the tsetse free region
On urbanization, many of the largest and oldest cities in pre-colonial Africa were located in the tsetse infested regions of southern Nigeria and the East African coast, ie: the Yoruba & Swahili cities
with higher population densities than those found in the tsetse free region
December 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
3)
On urbanization, many of the largest and oldest cities in pre-colonial Africa were located in the tsetse infested regions of southern Nigeria and the East African coast, ie: the Yoruba & Swahili cities
with higher population densities than those found in the tsetse free region
On urbanization, many of the largest and oldest cities in pre-colonial Africa were located in the tsetse infested regions of southern Nigeria and the East African coast, ie: the Yoruba & Swahili cities
with higher population densities than those found in the tsetse free region
2)
Regarding centralization, historians tend to associate the southernmost states; Asante, Dahomey, Kongo, with centralized bureaucracies (however anachronistic)
In contrast, large states in the tsetse free Sahel ; Mali, Songhai, Bornu, were never centralized to a similar extent
Regarding centralization, historians tend to associate the southernmost states; Asante, Dahomey, Kongo, with centralized bureaucracies (however anachronistic)
In contrast, large states in the tsetse free Sahel ; Mali, Songhai, Bornu, were never centralized to a similar extent
December 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
2)
Regarding centralization, historians tend to associate the southernmost states; Asante, Dahomey, Kongo, with centralized bureaucracies (however anachronistic)
In contrast, large states in the tsetse free Sahel ; Mali, Songhai, Bornu, were never centralized to a similar extent
Regarding centralization, historians tend to associate the southernmost states; Asante, Dahomey, Kongo, with centralized bureaucracies (however anachronistic)
In contrast, large states in the tsetse free Sahel ; Mali, Songhai, Bornu, were never centralized to a similar extent
Surprisingly, the author uses Great Zimbabwe as an example for what would have happened in Africa without the tsetse-free, esp. on political centralization
Yet historians actually consider it to be a "heterachical" rather than hierarchical society
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Yet historians actually consider it to be a "heterachical" rather than hierarchical society
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
December 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Surprisingly, the author uses Great Zimbabwe as an example for what would have happened in Africa without the tsetse-free, esp. on political centralization
Yet historians actually consider it to be a "heterachical" rather than hierarchical society
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Yet historians actually consider it to be a "heterachical" rather than hierarchical society
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
I read this paper so you don't have to
Here are some reasons why all of its claims are total bullshit
1) Tsetse fly free regions like the Sahel have some of the lowest levels of agricultural production and population density on the continent
Here are some reasons why all of its claims are total bullshit
1) Tsetse fly free regions like the Sahel have some of the lowest levels of agricultural production and population density on the continent
December 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I read this paper so you don't have to
Here are some reasons why all of its claims are total bullshit
1) Tsetse fly free regions like the Sahel have some of the lowest levels of agricultural production and population density on the continent
Here are some reasons why all of its claims are total bullshit
1) Tsetse fly free regions like the Sahel have some of the lowest levels of agricultural production and population density on the continent
al-Wālī's works circulated widely and have been discovered in manuscript collections across Mali, Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria.
17th-century manuscript by al-Wālī found at the University of al-Azhar, Egypt,
Currently at Leiden University, Netherlands.
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
17th-century manuscript by al-Wālī found at the University of al-Azhar, Egypt,
Currently at Leiden University, Netherlands.
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
December 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
al-Wālī's works circulated widely and have been discovered in manuscript collections across Mali, Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria.
17th-century manuscript by al-Wālī found at the University of al-Azhar, Egypt,
Currently at Leiden University, Netherlands.
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
17th-century manuscript by al-Wālī found at the University of al-Azhar, Egypt,
Currently at Leiden University, Netherlands.
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
The Fulbé constituted another significant scholarly diaspora in the region, especially the Toroɓɓe clerisy, which included some of the most prominent scholars in the kingdoms of Bornu and Bagirmi (modern Chad).
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
December 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The Fulbé constituted another significant scholarly diaspora in the region, especially the Toroɓɓe clerisy, which included some of the most prominent scholars in the kingdoms of Bornu and Bagirmi (modern Chad).
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
Return of the Sultan of Bagirmi from the Expedition, 4th July 1852.
Massenya, Chad.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
Massenya, Chad.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
December 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Return of the Sultan of Bagirmi from the Expedition, 4th July 1852.
Massenya, Chad.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
Massenya, Chad.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
Bonduku, Côte D’ivoire. ca. 1889.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
December 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Bonduku, Côte D’ivoire. ca. 1889.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
A Hausa-style mosque at Salaga, Ghana. ca. 1886.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
December 7, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A Hausa-style mosque at Salaga, Ghana. ca. 1886.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
19th-century copy of the prayerbook ‘Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt’, written in northern Ghana.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
December 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
19th-century copy of the prayerbook ‘Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt’, written in northern Ghana.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
Long-distance networks of pre-colonial West Africa
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
December 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Long-distance networks of pre-colonial West Africa
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
-Conclusion: Al-Wālī's philosophical theology in the context of pre-colonial African philosophy.
-References:
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
-References:
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
December 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
-Conclusion: Al-Wālī's philosophical theology in the context of pre-colonial African philosophy.
-References:
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
-References:
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
A 17th-century West African scholar: the philosophical theology of Muḥammad al-Wālī (fl. 1688)
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
December 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A 17th-century West African scholar: the philosophical theology of Muḥammad al-Wālī (fl. 1688)
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
Tomorrow's article is about West Africa's internal diasporas and the writings of a 17th-century scholar
December 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Tomorrow's article is about West Africa's internal diasporas and the writings of a 17th-century scholar
Shrine-shaped pectoral depicting Osiris seated between Isis and Horus
743–712 B.C. Reign of Piankhy (Piye)
Pyramid Ku 51 (tomb of a queen of Pianky), el-Kurru, Sudan.
-Boston Museum of Fine Arts
#randomxt
743–712 B.C. Reign of Piankhy (Piye)
Pyramid Ku 51 (tomb of a queen of Pianky), el-Kurru, Sudan.
-Boston Museum of Fine Arts
#randomxt
December 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Shrine-shaped pectoral depicting Osiris seated between Isis and Horus
743–712 B.C. Reign of Piankhy (Piye)
Pyramid Ku 51 (tomb of a queen of Pianky), el-Kurru, Sudan.
-Boston Museum of Fine Arts
#randomxt
743–712 B.C. Reign of Piankhy (Piye)
Pyramid Ku 51 (tomb of a queen of Pianky), el-Kurru, Sudan.
-Boston Museum of Fine Arts
#randomxt
December 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
a healthy dose of self-awareness
December 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
a healthy dose of self-awareness
The medieval cities and towns of Eritrea (ca. 1000-1900 CE)
www.patreon.com/posts/143143...
www.patreon.com/posts/143143...
December 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The medieval cities and towns of Eritrea (ca. 1000-1900 CE)
www.patreon.com/posts/143143...
www.patreon.com/posts/143143...
Medieval cities in the northern Horn of Africa (1200-1600 CE)
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/medieval-c...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/medieval-c...
December 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Medieval cities in the northern Horn of Africa (1200-1600 CE)
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/medieval-c...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/medieval-c...
10-15 million people to be exact
like 80% of Senegal's current population passing through what is basically a single-family home
like 80% of Senegal's current population passing through what is basically a single-family home
December 1, 2025 at 11:48 AM
10-15 million people to be exact
like 80% of Senegal's current population passing through what is basically a single-family home
like 80% of Senegal's current population passing through what is basically a single-family home
The fact that its curator somehow managed to convince many high-profile visitors, including US presidents and the pope, that all 10-15 million slaves passed through its door to the sea, shows how incredibly easy it is to manipulate the historical memory of slavery
December 1, 2025 at 5:32 AM
The fact that its curator somehow managed to convince many high-profile visitors, including US presidents and the pope, that all 10-15 million slaves passed through its door to the sea, shows how incredibly easy it is to manipulate the historical memory of slavery
painting of the so-called 'House of slaves' at Goree, Senegal
“The pathetic idea of a door through which slaves supposedly passed on their way to America was nothing but a story intended to impress tourists at the end of the 20th century.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/slavery-in...
“The pathetic idea of a door through which slaves supposedly passed on their way to America was nothing but a story intended to impress tourists at the end of the 20th century.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/slavery-in...
November 30, 2025 at 8:53 PM
painting of the so-called 'House of slaves' at Goree, Senegal
“The pathetic idea of a door through which slaves supposedly passed on their way to America was nothing but a story intended to impress tourists at the end of the 20th century.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/slavery-in...
“The pathetic idea of a door through which slaves supposedly passed on their way to America was nothing but a story intended to impress tourists at the end of the 20th century.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/slavery-in...