Book SummaryAmerica Is the True Old World, by Amunhotep Chavis El-Bey

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of America Is the True Old World

Civilization indeed originated in the Americas.

In his groundbreaking work, the author introduces the contentious idea that the cradle of civilization is found in the Americas, thus challenging the conventional narrative of human history. El-Bey presents a compelling argument, supported by archaeological evidence, linguistic studies, and historical records, which contests the widely held view that humanity originated in Africa, suggesting instead that the birthplace of advanced societies and human enlightenment was actually the Americas.

The Americas were the source of the essential nourishment necessary for human existence.

The author begins the discussion by highlighting an often overlooked aspect in discussions about the beginning of human civilization: nourishment. He argues that farming originated in the Americas, as evidenced by the fact that all vital crops necessary for human sustenance first appeared in this region.

The majority of essential food crops, including squash, tomatoes, corn, potatoes, beans, wheat, and various fruits and vegetables, have their origins in the American continent.

El-Bey emphasizes the pivotal role of the American continents as the birthplace of numerous crops such as squash, tomatoes, corn, potatoes, beans, wheat, yams, the ancestors of today's white rice, peanuts, and almost 90% of all fruits and vegetables, leveraging this data to argue that the Americas were the primary origin of agriculture and, consequently, the inception of civilization. The book suggests that the initial development of advanced civilizations in the Americas was significantly influenced by the abundant availability of essential resources. The reasonable conclusion is that the Americas must have been the birthplace of the expertise and techniques for cultivating these essential crops, thereby establishing the region as a central axis for agricultural development and a critical point for the progression of human civilization.

Other Perspectives

• The ancestor of today's white rice is typically traced back to regions in and around China and India, not the Americas.
• The diversity of crops worldwide suggests a multiplicity of agricultural origins, with many regions contributing to the global agricultural heritage, rather than a single pivotal role played by the American continents.
• The term "civilization" encompasses more than just agricultural development; it includes the rise of cities, social stratification, and complex institutions, which also arose independently in regions like Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China.
• Advanced civilizations have arisen in regions with scarce resources, suggesting that resource abundance is not a prerequisite for the development of complex societies.
• The assertion that the Americas were the central axis for agricultural development overlooks the contributions of ancient civilizations in Africa, such as Egypt, where irrigation and farming techniques along the Nile River were crucial for their development.
• The domestication of animals, which occurred in various parts of the world, was also essential to the development of human civilization, and regions outside the Americas, such as the Middle East and Asia, were pivotal in this aspect.

The American continents are home to the most ancient and largest pyramids.

The author bolsters his argument by citing the presence of pyramids as evidence of the Americas' rich historical heritage. He disputes the widespread notion that the pinnacle of pyramid construction is found in Egypt, underscoring that the Americas boast pyramids which are both older and larger in scale.

The Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico is recognized as the largest pyramid in the world by volume, even exceeding the renowned Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt when it comes to its dimensions.

El-Bey emphasizes the vastness of Mexico's Cholula pyramid, which covers an area of 160,000 square meters and has a volume of 4.45 million cubic meters, surpassing the size of Egypt's most famous pyramid. This direct comparison challenges the notion that the intricate building of pyramids was a skill solely possessed by Egypt.

Practical Tips

• Foster an appreciation for world heritage by starting a virtual travel club focused on exploring the world's largest and most significant structures. Use video conferencing tools to 'visit' a new site each month, sharing facts, images, and insights about each location. Members can take turns presenting, allowing for a collaborative and educational experience that celebrates human achievement in construction and design.
• Create a visual representation using items like building blocks or a drawing app to represent the pyramid's area versus commonly known large structures or areas in your city. For instance, if a football field is approximately 5,350 square meters, you can visualize how many football fields would fit into the pyramid's area. This visual comparison can help you appreciate the size and effort that went into constructing such a monument.
• Engage in a creative writing exercise where you imagine a fictional civilization and describe the construction of a monument with the same volume as the Pyramid of Cholula. This activity encourages you to think about the resources, labor, and time that would be involved, offering insight into the challenges faced by ancient builders.
• Explore ancient civilizations through virtual reality tours to understand the diversity of their engineering feats. By using VR apps or online platforms that offer immersive experiences of ancient sites, you can gain a visual and spatial understanding of the complexity and variety of ancient structures beyond Egyptian pyramids, such as Mesoamerican step pyramids or Chinese tomb mounds.

The predominant form of pyramids in the Americas, the step pyramids, were constructed prior to the development of Egypt's smooth-sided pyramids.

The author...

America Is the True Old World Summary Historically, the Americas were known as "India Superior" or "Mu."

The author explores the idea that ancient civilizations originated in the Americas, suggesting that all cultures emerged from a single ancestral territory. He identifies the legendary territory situated in the Americas, specifically within the Arctic area of North America, and designates it using various names such as "the Greater India" or "Mu."

The cradle of civilization is believed to have been in the Arctic area of North America, often referred to as "India Superior" or "Mu."

The writer puts forth a challenging hypothesis suggesting that the birthplace of civilization may not be the commonly acknowledged fertile river valleys or temperate zones, but instead the severe Arctic area, thus challenging conventional geographic notions. He identifies a region encompassing parts of present-day Canada and Greenland as the location of the legendary "Mu," also referred to as a territory believed to have existed before cataclysmic events transformed the planet's topography.

Mount Meru serves as the essential connection between the spiritual and physical realms of the universe.

The author's primary contention is based on the significance of Mount Meru, an elusive mountain...

America Is the True Old World Summary The connections between the Americas and ancient societies, including Egypt, the Indus Valley, and Mesopotamia.

The author's contention explores the deep examination of intertwined pasts and impacts between ancient American cultures and other significant civilizations, including those of Mesopotamia, the river valley of the Nile, and the subcontinent of India, thus challenging the commonly recognized sequence of historical occurrences.

The Americas are home to artifacts and architectural styles that closely mirror those of ancient Egypt.

The author presents compelling parallels, emphasizing how artifacts and architectural styles across the Americas bear resemblance to those of ancient Egypt, suggesting the potential for cultural exchange or shared ancestry. He argues that these similarities are too numerous and too specific to be mere coincidence.

The discovery of numerous artifacts across the American continents, bearing resemblance to those of Sumer, indicates a substantial influence of this ancient civilization in these areas.

Amunhotep Chavis El-Bey constructs a compelling case by highlighting a variety of artifacts across the Americas that reflect similar ones discovered in the Sumerian civilization. The discovery of artifacts adorned with cuneiform script and depictions...