African Empires

[squirrelmadness]

Popular culture's depiction of the pre-colonial peoples of the non-European world is a shameful thing, and the prevailing view of Africa is an excellent example of this. For whatever reason, the most common viewpoint seems to be that the peoples of Africa were a race of "noble savages" who lived, child-like, in an idyllic but abysmally primitive

Comments

[squirrelmadness]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it.

[midnightstation]

Very informative and inspiring. Thanks for highlighting other cultures on this forum.

[squirrelmadness]

Thank you sir. I'm very much in favor of giving everyone due credit, and given the possibility for diversity that's inherent in a steampunk world it's only right that we look at all available cultures. After doing a general piece on Asia and a specific one on East Asia, I thought it was only right I take a look at some other continents. I'll probably do a piece on the Native Americans next, when time permits, then maybe the Pacific, Southeast Asia, North Asia or the Middle East following that. I might even take a look at some of non-Anglo/Franco/Germano Europeans of the time, who also keep getting overlooked in favor of the major powers. The list is sizable, but well worth the climb.

do you take requests

[tracyandrook]

I'm very interested in the Gurkhas. I suppose I have just volunteered myself to do a writeup, but if you'd like it, go for it.

[squirrelmadness]

Thank you, thank you.

[greenmask]

Thank you for the info. :]

[squirrelmadness]

I am very glad to have contributed.

[pathology_doc]

Sad to say, the Zulus only won at Isandlwana because of gross mismanagement of the British ammunition supply at the level of the quartermasters; the Zulus were pinned down early on, and only able to move forward when the British rifle fire slackened. Even then, it was a Pyrrhic victory. Rorke's Drift, shortly after, showed what could/should have happened: the survivors from Isandlwana had arrived before the battle started; and based on their experiences, all the ammunition boxes were broken open at the start for easy access.

OTOH, the Ethiopians were the only "tribal" power I know of to beat a firearm-equipped European power (Italy) outright. Isandlwana was only a temporary reverse for the British, and even then it was a defeat snatched out of the jaws of a close-run thing. Adowa was a deciding contest - the Italians didn't come back for a rematch.