An important theme from both the reading and our class discussion today was the impact that Eurocentric ideas had on the history of Africa. This topic has been a highly debated subject among contemporary historians due to its contentious role in world history. Eurocentric thought on African history consists of the idea that there is no history before European colonization due to the inability of westerners to transcribe ancient African texts. On the other hand, Afrocentric ideas promote the thought that Africa is a place of vibrant history, stemming from its beginnings in ancient Egypt. As we discussed in class, the European explanation for its rule in Africa consisted of validating its actions by claiming that African nations weren’t civilized and it was the Europeans’ job to civilize them. This point can be disproved by observing Africa’s extensive history in the middle ages where it possessed a much more advanced infrastructure than anything in the west despite Europeans’ refusal to acknowledge this history and insistence on falsely referring to Africa during those times as “Medieval Africa.” Overall, it’s clear that the theme of Eurocentrism has a history of repeating itself no matter what area of the globe is in question.