I figure one possibility is that it stayed so uncivilized because civilized people could never make it down there without getting sick from things the locals were immune to, but I'm not sure that's enough by itself.
Asia was just so far away from Europe the trip wouldn't be worth the trouble (in either direction), except for the occasional merchant. And yet, both continents independently managed to develop highly civilized cultures. Or maybe they just both got it from the middle east? (Funny irony, that one).
Was Ethiopia ever really a power?
I guess I'm just wondering why, of the three connected continents Europe, Asia, and Africa : Africa was so full of people no more civilized than the North American Indians.
I know this could turn racist really fast, if the wrong kind of person decides to post, but I'm really looking for other considerations.