The history of Africa : the quest for eternal harmony / Molefi Kete Asante.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Asante, Molefi Kete, 1942-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Africa--History.

Africa.

History.

Africa--Civilization.

Civilization.

Physical Description:

xiii, 397 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York ; London : Routledge, 2007.

Summary:

There is a paradox about Africa: it remains a subject that attracts considerable attention yet rarely is there a full appreciation of its complexity. African historiography has typically consisted of writing Africa for Europe - instead of writing Africa for itself, as itself, from its own perspectives. The History of Africa redresses this by letting the perspectives of Africans themselves take center stage.

Authoritative and comprehensive, this book provides a wide-ranging history of Africa from earliest prehistory to the present day - using the cultural, social, political, and economic lenses of Africa as instruments to illuminate the ordinary lives of Africans. The result is afresh new survey that includes a wealth of indigenous ideas, African concepts, and traditional outlooks that have escaped the writing of African history in the West. This straightforward, illustrated, and factual text allows the reader to access the major developments, personalities, and events on the African continent. Written by a world expert, this groundbreaking survey is an indispensable guide to African history.

Contents:

pt. 1. The time of the awakening

Africa and the origin of humanity

pt. 2. The age of literacy

Africa and the beginning of civilization

The rise of Kemet/Egypt

The elements of early African civilization

Governance and the political stability of Kemet

pt. 3. The moment of realization

The emergence of the great river kingdoms

pt. 4. The age of construction

The spread of classical empires and kingdoms

The Sudanic empires : historians and their narratives

Generators of traditional and contemporary Africa

Societies of secrets : farmers and metallurgists

pt. 5. The time of chaos

Arab and European missionaries, merchants, and mercenaries

Resisting European and Arab slave traders

pt. 6. The age of reconstruction

Africa regains consciousness in a Pan-African explosion

pt. 7. The time for consolidation

Africa consolidates independence

Toward a United States of Africa without compromise : creation of the African Union

Chronology of African history

Some African ethnic groups

Major linguistic complexes.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [377]-380) and index.

ISBN:

0415771382

9780415771382

0415771390

9780415771399

OCLC:

70291948

Online:

Publisher description