Covers the history of the entire African continent, from prehistory to
the present day
A Companion to African History embraces the diverse regions, subject
matter, and disciplines of the African continent, while also providing
chronological and geographical coverage of basic historical
developments. Two dozen essays by leading international scholars explore
the challenges facing this relatively new field of historical enquiry
and present the dynamic ways in which historians and scholars from other
fields such as archaeology, anthropology, political science, and
economics are forging new directions in thinking and research.
Comprised of six parts, the book begins with thematic approaches to
African history--exploring the environment, gender and family, medical
practices, and more. Section two covers Africa's early history and its
pre-colonial past--early human adaptation, the emergence of kingdoms,
royal power, and warring states. The third section looks at the era of
the slave trade and European expansion. Part four examines the process
of conquest--the discovery of diamonds and gold, military and social
response, and more. Colonialism is discussed in the sixth section, with
chapters on the economy transformed due to the development of
agriculture and mining industries. The last section studies the
continent from post World War II all the way up to modern times.
- Aims at capturing the enthusiasms of practicing historians, and
encouraging similar passion in a new generation of scholars
- Emphasizes linkages within Africa as well as between the continent and
other parts of the world
- All chapters include significant historiographical content and
suggestions for further reading
- Written by a global team of writers with unique backgrounds and views
- Features case studies with illustrative examples
In a field traditionally marked by narrow specialisms, A Companion to
African History is an ideal book for advanced students, researchers,
historians, and scholars looking for a broad yet unique overview of
African history as a whole.
