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African History in Documents: Eastern African History (African History Text and Readings, Vol 2)

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Collins, Robert O. African History in Documents (3 vols.): Volume I - West African History (1997; Volume II - East African History (1997); Volume III - Central and Southern African History (1996). ISBN vol. 1 - 1-55876-015-6; ISBN vol. 2 - 1-55876-016-4; ISBN vol. 3 - 1-55876-017-2

This volume is one of a three volume series. All three volumes are edited by Robert O. Collins, a distinguished and highly respected professor of African History. Each volume focuses on single wide geographic region and is remarkable for the time span covered as well as the scope of the documents included. The earliest document comes from 100 AD. and the most recent is from 1988. Familiar names like Ibn Battuta, and Nelson Mandela are included along with less well known yet significant documents such as The Kano Chronicle (a written version of an oral history), and essays by Leopold Senghor and Jan Christaan Smuts. Historians, anthropologists, explorers, intellectuals, political leaders--African and European--speak. Designed primaily for classroom use, each selection is easy enough for the average high school student to read without difficulty (which means it would also be appropriate for college freshmen in an introductory African history course). Each volume includes a map and a twenty page overview of the region on which the volume centers. The introductory chapter places the contents of the book in broad historical perspective. Each selection features an introduction. Explanatory footnotes (rare indeed these days because of publishers desire to cut costs) help the reader understand unfamiliar terms and the significance of people, places, and events mentioned in the text. A must have, this is an excellent resource for the teacher, the student, or the library.