Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33404 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 816 pages

Synopsis
A one-volume history of Africa which starts in geological pre-history and the formation of the continent. It spans; the ecology of the continent and the arrival of man; first settlement 30,000 years ago, the developments of the black population; the formation of tribes and animist religion etc; then white colonization, the slave trade, missionaries, gold and diamonds in South Africa, the scramble for colonies, and finally in this century, decolonisation and African nationalism. this massive book will be the result of four years research most of it in Africa.

Customer Reviews

Couldn't put it down
This is a well researched and credible book about the whole of the African continent which gives a broad picture on which details of modern African politics and events fit comfortably.

To me it read very smoothly and I couldn't put it down at the end.

An absolutely fascinating account of considerable academic credibility and importance.

It has really ignited my interest in Africa and African politics.

A book for one who wants to know the detail of Africa
If you have lived or worked in Africa and you need to be confident of what you are talking about when you are in discussions about this amazing and beautiful continent - then you need to have read this book. It is not light reading, but it is absorbing and absolutely crammed with factual, well-researched detail. The Bibliography alone is 43 pages. A real book of reference.

A Masterpiece!
For a very thick book I read this in a week and a half. Very well written and easy to read but researched in such a way to add serious credibility. The environmental, historical and anthropological detail that Reader employs is very effective. It helps banish to history the stereotypes and false impressions about Africa that have prevailed for centuries.

Some of the information about African languages, the migration from Africa to the rest of the world, the development of iron and the study on why the established western understanding of the development of civilisations and ancient cities just doesn't apply to Africa are really fascinating.

This should be read by everybody who has lived, travelled or worked in Africa. Brilliant Book.