Many of the early European visitors, in fact, were impressed by the luxury, power, trading practices, skilled crafts, and the complex social structure which they found in Africa.

Only in some parts of East Africa, where the states were unusually small, were the Portuguese able to pillage and conquer at will.

While many Europeans may have thought of Africa as being filled with ignorant savages, those who reached its shores were impressed instead with its vigorous civilization.
The Culture of West Africa An African should not have to find it necessary to make apologies for his civilization.

However, Europeans and Americans have come to believe, at least in their subconscious minds, that civilization can be equated with progress in science and technology.

Because the Africans lagged far behind the Europeans in the arts of war and of economic exploitation, the Europeans believed at the Africans must be uncivilized savages.