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The classic history of Africa from the green Sahara and the Iron Age through the 20th century. Basil Davidson's Africa in History was a landmark in the restoration of African history. For centuries the myth had prevailed that Africa had no history prior to direct contact with European "civilization". This new edition of Basil Davidson's book not only eradicated these myths, but takes account of much of the most recent scholarship about native African civilizations.
Basil Davidson states that by examining three important areas of Africa in the history of slavery 'against a general background of their time and circumstance' he was taking 'a fresh look at the oversea slave trade, the steady year-by-year export of African labour to the West Indies and the Americas that marked the greatest and most fateful migration - forced migration - in the history of man.' North America: Times/Random House
A vivid, first hand description of how the Cape Verde Islands fared before and after freeing themselves from colonial rule.
Basil Davidson's famous book -- now updated in a welcome Third Edition -- reviews the social and political history of Africa in the twentieth century. It takes the reader from the colonial era through the liberation movements to independence and beyond. It faces squarely the disappointments and breakdowns that have dulled the early successes of the post-colonial era; yet, for all the sorrows and uncertainties of Africa today, Basil Davidson shows how much has been achieved since decolonization, and the mood of his new final chapter is hopeful and buoyant.
This book provides a balanced view about a charismatic leader, Kwame Nkrumah during an exciting period of history in Ghana. It discusses the failure of Nkrumah's means and abilities to meet the challenge of his aims from the standpoint of Ghana's welfare.
This is a survey of pre-colonial West Africa, written by the internationally respected author and journalist, Basil Davidson. He takes as his starting point his successful textA History of West Africa 1000-1800, but he has reworked his new text specially for a wider international readership. In the process he offers a fascinating introduction to the rich societies and cultures of Africa before the coming of the Europeans.
Discusses Egypt, Kush, Meroe, kingdoms of the Old Sudan, Ghana, Mali, Timbuktu, Songhay, the Sao and Kanem, Carthage, Benin, Zanj, Kalambo, Sheba, coastal trade, Axum, Ethiopia, Engaruka, Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe, Inyanga and Niekerk, medieval Rhodesia, the Azanians, the Phoenicians, Djenne, El Masudi, Gao, the Iron Age, Kenya, Kilwa, Khartoum, Malindi, Mombasa, Monomotapa, Mozambique, Ophir, Punt, the Portuguese and the slave trade, Sofala, and more.
Basil Davidson gives insights into the depth and sophistication of African cultural and social history in a way that is intelligible and accessible to the lay-reader. North America: Ohio U Press