Martin Bernal
British academic
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Q: Who is Martin Bernal?
A: Martin Bernal (March 10, 1937 – June 9, 2013) was a British scholar of modern Chinese political history and Sinology. He was Professor of Government at Cornell University from 1969 to 2001. He is best known for his controversial work Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization, a three-volume publication arguing for an Ancient Egyptian and Phoenician origin of Greek civilization.
Q: What is Black Athena about?
A: Black Athena is a controversial three-volume work by Martin Bernal. It was first published in 1987 and argues for an Ancient Egyptian and Phoenician origin of Greek civilization. Bernal challenges the conventional wisdom--that Greek culture was a pure and unadulterated representation of the heights of civilization--by questioning the long-standing assumptions about the influences on ancient Greece.
Q: How was Black Athena received by the academic community?
A: The publication of Black Athena sparked extensive debate and controversy within the academic community. While some scholars praised Bernal's ambitious and thought-provoking ideas, others criticized his methodology and conclusions. The work challenged long-standing assumptions and raised questions about the racial and cultural origins of ancient Greece, which led to strong reactions and differing opinions among scholars.
Q: What other works did Martin Bernal publish?
A: Aside from Black Athena, Martin Bernal published several other works on Chinese history and culture. Some of his notable publications include "Chinese Socialism to 1907" (1976), "Ideas, Intellectuals, and Chinese Society: Reform and Protest in the Late Twentieth Century" (1980), and "Who Was Guan Yu? Warrior, Hero, and Avatar" (2009). These works demonstrate Bernal's diverse interests and expertise in Chinese studies.
Q: What is Martin Bernal's legacy?
A: Martin Bernal left a lasting impact on the fields of Sinology and ancient history. While his controversial theories in Black Athena have not been universally accepted, they brought about a re-examination of the cultural and racial dynamics of ancient Greece. Today, his work continues to inspire academic discourse and research in areas such as Afrocentrism, the origins of civilization, and the study of ancient Mediterranean cultures.