Africa in HistoryAfrica in History provides a history of Africa without the typical Eurocentric approach. Prior to the original publication of Africa in History, the history and development of Africa had been measured by the European concept of "civilization," applying a Eurocentric approach to African art and literature. Basil Davidson's landmark work presents the inner growth of Africa and its worldwide significance, the internal dynamic of its old civilizations and their links with Asia, Europe and America, as well as the development of specific areas, tribes and cultures. From accounts of the days of the green Sahara and the great iron age, the earliest Portuguese colonization, the coming of slavery and the subsequent legacy of violence and mistrust, the growth of Islam in the north and the cults of the Congo, the sophistication of art and architecture, and the pattern behind social and tribal mores, the entire picture of the continent emerges. This revised edition reflects the recent astonishing changes in South Africa, including the release of Nelson Mandela. |
Contents
New Truths | 1 |
The Shape of Africa | 6 |
An Iron Age Begins | 18 |
Copyright | |
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achieved African history Almoravid Angola Arab Asante Atlantic Axum became began Benin Berber British Caliphate Cape central Christian cities civilization coast coastal colonial Congo conquest continued culture dynasty Early Iron Age East eastern Eastern/Central/Southern economic Egypt Egyptian empire Ethiopia Europe European forms French Fulani Ghana gold grasslands groups Guinea Hausa imperial importance independence Indian Ocean invasion Iron Age Islam ivory Kanem Kenya Kilwa kingdom kings kingship Kush Kushite labour land later Mali Mandinka Mature Iron Age Meroe Meroitic military modern Moroccan Morocco Mozambique Muslim neighbours Niger Nigeria Nile Valley/Northern nineteenth century Nubia period political population Portuguese régime region remained Roman rule rulers Sahara Senegal settlement settlers sixteenth century slave trade social society Songhay South Africa southern southward Stone Age structures Sudan territories Timbuktu towns traditional unity West Africa Western Sudan Yoruba Zambezi Zambia Zimbabwe