War in pre-colonial eastern Africa : the patterns & meanings of state-level conflict in the nineteenth century / Richard Reid.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Reid, Richard J. (Richard James)

Contributor:

British Institute in Eastern Africa.

Series:

Eastern African studies (London, England)

Eastern African studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War and society--Africa, East--History--19th century.

War and society.

War and society--Africa, Northeast--History--19th century.

Military art and science--Africa, East--History--19th century.

Military art and science.

Military art and science--Africa, Northeast--History--19th century.

History.

Africa, East--History--To 1886.

Africa, East.

Africa, Northeast--History--19th century.

Africa, Northeast.

Northeast Africa.

Physical Description:

xvi, 256 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; Nairobi : The British Institute in Eastern Africa ; Oxford : In association with James Currey ; Nairobi : Eastern African Educational Publishers ; Kampala [Uganda] : Fountain ; Athens, Ohio : Ohio University Press, 2007.

Summary:

This is an examination of the nature and objectives of conflict in the major states of Eastern Africa in the nineteenth century. It focusses on highland Ethiopia, on the interlacustrine area of Buganda and its neighbours, and on the area of central Tanzania from the south of Lake Victoria to Lake Tanganyika where Mirambo and his rivals operated.

Richard Reid shows the circumstances in which conflict could encourage socio-political innovation and economic growth, as well as when it hindered development. He analyses how the economics of conflict and the wider social and cultural implications of violence affected urbanisation, depopulation and social status. The practice of diplomacy and conflict resolution was also of importance.

The book is aimed at undergraduates and academic specialists working on pre-colonial African history, and those interested more broadly in military history. People involved in modern development and conflict resolution may well find that this book helps them understand the deeper historical roots of African warfare. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part 1 Theory & Context

1 Introduction: African War in Historical & Theoretical Perspective 2

Themes and limitations

War in Africanist scholarship

The sources

2 Antiquity & Inheritance: Restorative Violence & the Weight of History 22

Chronicles of power and suffering in northeast Africa

Founding fathers, civilisations and hegemonic narratives in the great lakes

Remembered greatness: Mirambo and restoration

Part 2 Armies

3 Tools & Tactics 40

Tools of war (1): Indigenous weaponry

Tools of war (2): The spread of the firearm

Tactics, strategy and orders of attack and defence

4 Organisation & Function 79

Armies: Their structures and commanders

The military in the African polity

Part 3 Process, Impact & Culture

5 Cost & Profit: War & Economic Change 108

The force of the world beyond: commerce and competition

Soil and wood, metal and flesh

6 Violence & Society 142

Criminality and illegitimacy

Class, age and gender: Shifting socio-economic relationships

Town and refuge: shifting patterns of settlement

7 The Resolution & Avoidance of Conflict 178

Interpretation and processes of conflict resolution

Diplomacy and embassy

Hyperbole and hubris: Interpreting the language of threat and placation

8 The Culture of Conflict 201

War and material culture: The symbols of conflict

Great men and pregnant women: notions of masculinity, courage and cowardice mutilation and celebration

Rumour and half-truth: the anticipation of violence and the culture of fear

Reading intestines (and holy books): spirituality and military mysticism

Revisiting 'primitive war': violence as ritual sport

9 Conclusions: War & the Making of State & Society 231.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 236-244) and index.

ISBN:

1847016057

9781847016058

1847016049

9781847016041

997002728X

9789970027286

0821417940

9780821417942

0821417959

9780821417959

OCLC:

156891497

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description