Africans Brought So Much Technology, Science, and Astronomy to Europe!
The narrative that Europe’s scientific and technological achievements emerged in a vacuum ignores the crucial role of African civilizations in shaping these advancements. From ancient Egypt to medieval Mali and Moorish Spain, Africans brought a wealth of knowledge that fundamentally changed European learning.
"Africans brought so much technology, science and astronomy to Europe!" Some examples? pic.twitter.com/h6ThwBP3XK
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) May 31, 2025
In ancient Egypt, African scientists and engineers laid the foundation for architecture, medicine, and astronomy. Egyptian knowledge of geometry, used to construct the Pyramids and complex irrigation systems, was later studied by Greek scholars like Thales and Pythagoras, who traveled to Egypt to learn directly from African priests and scribes. The Greeks acknowledged this debt; Herodotus wrote of Egypt as the “cradle of civilization.” Egyptian astronomy, reflected in their precise calendar based on the heliacal rising of Sirius, was adopted and refined by European astronomers centuries later.
Moving westward, the Kingdom of Mali, centered on the ancient city of Timbuktu, was a beacon of learning in the medieval world. Timbuktu’s universities, such as Sankore, housed thousands of manuscripts covering astronomy, medicine, mathematics, and law. During the 14th and 15th centuries, these centers of knowledge attracted scholars from North Africa and even Europe, fostering intellectual exchange that helped spark the European Renaissance.
Some replies:
Its amazing that they had Wakanda and somehow these vagabonds from Europe conquered them all and then chose to free them and lift them up as best they could.
— Dee Znuts (@agentic_orange) May 31, 2025
Another major influence came from the Moors—North African Muslims who ruled parts of Spain for over 700 years. Moorish Spain, particularly in cities like Cordoba and Toledo, became vibrant hubs of scientific progress. Africans and Arabs collaborated in translating and expanding Greek and Roman texts, but they also introduced original works in algebra, optics, and chemistry. The astrolabe, a sophisticated navigational instrument perfected by African and Arab astronomers, became an essential tool for European explorers during the Age of Discovery. Likewise, advancements in medical science from North African doctors like Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) influenced European medicine for centuries.
The impact of African astronomy in Moorish Spain was profound. The works of African astronomers, such as the “Zij” (astronomical tables), provided data that helped European astronomers like Copernicus and Galileo refine their theories. African scholars also played a pivotal role in the development of algebra and the decimal system, which were critical for Europe’s later scientific revolutions.
Despite the Eurocentric retelling of history, it’s clear that African scientific thought and technological innovation were central to Europe’s intellectual growth. The movement of African knowledge—whether through trade, conquest, or intellectual exchange—enriched European understanding of mathematics, medicine, and the cosmos.
As we continue to unearth ancient manuscripts in Timbuktu and re-examine the multicultural legacy of Moorish Spain, the historical record grows clearer: African contributions to Europe’s scientific and technological development were not only substantial but indispensable. This shared history challenges the notion of European exceptionalism and celebrates the interconnected nature of human progress—one that stretches across continents and centuries.
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