Africa: A History

by Alvin M. Josephy Jr.

Most of us still know less about Africa's past and peoples than we do about the continent's wild animals. And what we do know is colored by romance - safaris and treks and camel caravans, Solomon's mine and Tutankhamun's curse, the shores of Tripoli and the snows of Kilimanjaro. Yet the ancestor of all humankind may have lived in Africa. The world's longest-lived, literate civilization was African. Through the ages, great civilizations rose and fell in what was once called "darkest" Africa, leaving behind mysterious fortresses and splendid art. Christianity and Islam battled age-old beliefs - and each other. Traders on camels were followed by explorers in caravels and by a plague of invaders, hungry for ivory and diamonds and the "black gold" of slavery. In just the last half century, independence has swept away the old maps and colonial ways to jar the balance of the world. Here is Africa's story.

Genres: History, Africa, Nonfiction, Ebooks

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2017

About the author

An American historian who specialized in Native American topics. He served as a combat correspondent during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for his coverage of the U.S. capture of Guam. His interest in Native American history started during an assignment from Time Magazine.

Reviews

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing read. great for people who like history

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot. It is not possible to give justice to thousands of years of history of a whole continent in a few hundred pages, but this book gives a good overview. I'd give it 5 stars, but there were a couple of things that made the reading of this book not so pleasant. For a start, most non-africans don't know much about the geography of Africa. Thus, describing events that occurred in, say, Mali it is not clear if that means, east, west, north, south? So I highly recommend reading it with a map on the other hand. Second. A few chapters were really complex to read, in part because the stories where not sorted chronologically. Maybe there is a reason for that, but I found it cumbersome. Finally, the last chapter omits anything that happens after 1970. Being a book published on 2016 I think at least some words on the end of the Apartheid in South Africa and other similar developments could have been added.

Anyways, it was an entertaining experience and I think my very limited knowledge of African history was expanded by reading this book.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3 and a half stars. There is a awful lot of information to absorb in this book and it was very interesting. I can’t say enough about the importance of inclusion of maps, this is my primary reason for a lower rating on this book. Many people need a visual aid to know the areas being spoken of, especially when so many areas are discussed. Some chapters were easier to read than others so the flow of the book was compromised in a way. I’m disappointed that the book finished in the 1970’s. Considering the publishing date was recent there is a lot more history to cover. Overall though this book was a good read and I feel I’m better informed for it.

[Lynne Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and broad overview of a continent's history. Major criticism: it needs maps! Names and boundaries changed so much I got lost trying to figure out where the author was talking about. Tribal names were also sprinkled so liberally I had no idea who was being discussed.
The loss of culture due to slavery and colonialism is a tragedy in and of itself but some photos would have been nice. I know there is surviving pottery from different periods. Photos of major players would also have put a human face on the sometimes dry text.
Finally, a bibliography and suggested further reading list would have added much.

[Thomas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent compilation of previous works by a wide range of authorities on African history. The works compiled for the volume are a bit old, dating to the 1990s (if not earlier), but nevertheless hold up well. Unfortunately, the publisher, New Word Books, failed to provide bios for the authors or an introduction by someone who is still alive and active in a field related to the subject matter. The material is apparently not edited across chapters, and is therefore often redundant, yet the redundancy is useful in some cases to reinforce important subject matter.

[Karlis A Jansons · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a student and studying African history, this a 5 star text. Comprehensive and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it gave me another perspective on what I have already learned studying the Greeks, Romans, Islams expansion and history of Christian Europes Imperial expansion.
But if you are a general reader looking for an introduction or overview of Africa's history you will find this detailed and perhaps too comprehensive with many details, dates and names. The author writes with a pro-African bias and this is fine. It is an observation not a criticism.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre-history to 1971. American Heritage series which prioritizes the recitation of facts over a coherent narrative. Each era/area covered by a different author so it was pretty uneven. The best one covered the early 20th century.
I didn’t know hardly any African history to start with and I came away impressed with the civilizations and cultures developed up to the 19th century and of course with the horrific legacy of European exploitation and colonialism.

[jim fadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendous amount of information

Almost hard to comprehend due to its depth of information. Almost hard to wrap your brain around. Very important pieces of information that one may never have heard about before, concise.

[Ed Rabitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, wife ranging description of the development of the continent of Africa.

Worth reading as comprehensive history of Africa from 2500 BCE to 1960s CE. Thorough and objective. North, East, West and South.

[Gera Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wide ranging story of the African continent

Starting with pre history and going to 1970 this book is a good over view of Africa's place in the world
and African influences on other continents

[Fiona Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to African history.

[David Catron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very broad topic, handled reasonably well. Presents a definite political slant. Glad I read it, but not enthusiastic about it.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the earlier chapters dealing with ancient history.

[Kevin O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested to read this book because I know so little of African history, and this was a good introduction to get an overview of that history. Each chapter is written by a different author, which is good for such an expansive topic since the authors each have their own area of expertise. The book starts in pre-history, looking at the archeological data for early humans settlements, and works through Egypt, Rome, the Arabs, and finally black Africa. It winds up in the colonialism of the nineteenth century and then the de-colonization movements of the twentieth century, finally ending around 1970.

[Matīss Mintāls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neteikšu, ka dikti aizraujoši, taču daudzmaz guvu ieskatu kopējā kontinenta vēsturē, par ko līdz šim vispār bija ļoti fragmentāras zināšanas. Gribētos vēl vairāk uzzināt par Āfrikas centrālās un dienvidu daļas senāko laiku vēsturi, taču domāju, ka pašiem vēsturniekiem tas vēl gana maz apgūts lauciņš.
Vietām gan personvārduvārdu un skaitļu bija par daudz, tām vietām pārskrēju pāri līdz nākamajam action. Vasara nav domāta tik detalizētām grāmatām.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. Book

Hear so much about racism in the USA that I had to get a better view of how things were back in Africa before slavery in the USA. Got a broader picture now and everyone should read this book.