--- product_id: 199645 title: "They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America (Journal of African Civilizations)" price: "99.35 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/199645-they-came-before-columbus-the-african-presence-in-ancient-america store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America (Journal of African Civilizations) **Price:** 99.35 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America (Journal of African Civilizations) - **How much does it cost?** 99.35 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/199645-they-came-before-columbus-the-african-presence-in-ancient-america) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description “A landmark . . . brilliantly [demonstrates] has that there is far more to black history than the slave trade.”—John A. Williams They Came Before Columbus reveals a compelling, dramatic, and superbly detailed documentation of the presence and legacy of Africans in ancient America. Examining navigation and shipbuilding; cultural analogies between Native Americans and Africans; the transportation of plants, animals, and textiles between the continents; and the diaries, journals, and oral accounts of the explorers themselves, Ivan Van Sertima builds a pyramid of evidence to support his claim of an African presence in the New World centuries before Columbus. Combining impressive scholarship with a novelist’s gift for storytelling, Van Sertima re-creates some of the most powerful scenes of human history: the launching of the great ships of Mali in 1310 (two hundred master boats and two hundred supply boats), the sea expedition of the Mandingo king in 1311, and many others. In They Came Before Columbus, we see clearly the unmistakable face and handprint of black Africans in pre-Columbian America, and their overwhelming impact on the civilizations they encountered. Review: Really nice!!! - Enjoying the book, the price was very good, most important i think its written very well With truths and facts, Review: Why does this book offend some ppl? Cos it questions the "colonial fairytale" of Black inferiority - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, to everyone. It is very interesting and informative. A good introduction for those who are interested in the history of Black Africans prior to slavery. It's a good starting point for lots of different areas of further reading including, linguistics, ancient history, Egyptology, archaeology from the standpoint of Black Africans. The underlying theme is that there is evidence of the presence of Black Africans in the Americas prior to Columbus. This is the type of history that should be focused on during so called Black History month. I do not find this book revisionist unlike some of those that have given this book a negative review. I also do not think that the author is disrespectful to the Native American populations. In fact, I find his discussion to be quite balanced. His key message is clearly that there was an African influence on the Native American populations, not that the Africans came and taught the Natives everything they new. The author concludes by stating that all cultures and people as we know them are a melange of different cultures and people. The evidence is there, and Van Sertima presents this evidence. Why is it so hard for some people (i.e. the negative reviewers) to have a discussion about the African race without getting emotional and upset about it? It is 2020, and African/Black influence on all other cultures is still thriving (ref. cultural appropriation anyone?): dress, hair, music, religion, the way we speak, food, the way we walk, the way we dance, the way we sing etc. etc. so why is it so hard for people to believe the influence of Blacks on other cultures in the ancient period? Why are you so offended? ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #17,030 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #23 in Native American History (Books) #28 in Expeditions & Discoveries World History (Books) #51 in African American Demographic Studies (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 4,483 Reviews | ## Images ![They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America (Journal of African Civilizations) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71xVqpL7+RL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really nice!!! *by S***! on March 29, 2026* Enjoying the book, the price was very good, most important i think its written very well With truths and facts, ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Why does this book offend some ppl? Cos it questions the "colonial fairytale" of Black inferiority *by A***R on May 14, 2020* I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, to everyone. It is very interesting and informative. A good introduction for those who are interested in the history of Black Africans prior to slavery. It's a good starting point for lots of different areas of further reading including, linguistics, ancient history, Egyptology, archaeology from the standpoint of Black Africans. The underlying theme is that there is evidence of the presence of Black Africans in the Americas prior to Columbus. This is the type of history that should be focused on during so called Black History month. I do not find this book revisionist unlike some of those that have given this book a negative review. I also do not think that the author is disrespectful to the Native American populations. In fact, I find his discussion to be quite balanced. His key message is clearly that there was an African influence on the Native American populations, not that the Africans came and taught the Natives everything they new. The author concludes by stating that all cultures and people as we know them are a melange of different cultures and people. The evidence is there, and Van Sertima presents this evidence. Why is it so hard for some people (i.e. the negative reviewers) to have a discussion about the African race without getting emotional and upset about it? It is 2020, and African/Black influence on all other cultures is still thriving (ref. cultural appropriation anyone?): dress, hair, music, religion, the way we speak, food, the way we walk, the way we dance, the way we sing etc. etc. so why is it so hard for people to believe the influence of Blacks on other cultures in the ancient period? Why are you so offended? ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Different Perspective. Historical Globalization. You Cannot Learn Everything In School! *by A***H on April 8, 2014* You cannot learn everything in school! The educational institutions are established to give everyone in that society, nation, and/or empire; a standard education. So, if you travel or move to another district, to another city, or to another nation; all of the education officials will know exactly what you learned, and will value your education, your certificate, and your diploma. I understand this. I got the, 'sailing bug', for four years, from 2005-2008. I discovered that maritime history is not taught in the United Sates educational system. We won the American Revolution because the American sailors in the northeast, called privateers, captured the British ships and gave their weapons to George Washington and The Continental Congress. We won the War of 1812 because of the battles that our ships fought in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes. This is also not taught in school. You should also read a book called, 'COD' (as in codfish). A growing British colony had to feed itself and its sailors, and had to trade for its goods and supplies. The unbelievable information in this book, 'COD', is about how the northern colonies used a fish to become an economic powerhouse. This information is also not taught in school. I went on vacation in 2009. My travel agent, in our historical discussions, told me that there has always been global trade, that there has always been globalizaton. But I realized that our educational system primarily focuses on Western civilization and the northern hemisphere; which is OK. The book of this review, 'They came before Columbus', is about a larger, unwritten, aspect of globalization, international trade, and the influence of the Africian empires on the people of the Western hemisphere. This realization is absolutely fabulous! It is always wonderful to find out how disciplined, intelligent, and creative, Africian people were, outside of our own historical and educational, 'perspective'; and how the Africian empires used their abilities to summon resources, to travel, to explore, and to teach other people, who lived far distances from the center of their own empire. Keep up the good work. This is a fabulous book! Take care. Abdullah. ## Frequently Bought Together - They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America (Journal of African Civilizations) - The Mis-Education of the Negro - The Willie Lynch Letter and the Making of a Slave --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/199645-they-came-before-columbus-the-african-presence-in-ancient-america](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/199645-they-came-before-columbus-the-african-presence-in-ancient-america) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-08-22*