Centuries of Greatness: The West African Kingdoms, 750-1900 (Milestones in Black American History) [Library Binding]

Philip Koslow (Author), Martin Luther, Jr. King (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Milestones in Black American History | Publication Date: December 1995

Spanning more than a thousand years of art, industry, warfare, and commerce, a sweeping account of the power and splendor of West African kingdoms covers the rise and fall of great kingdoms and the reigns of many ambitious leaders.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-This ambitious series entry covers 1,150 years of West African history, from the Ghanaian Empire through the devastations of the slave trade. The first chapter focuses on human origins; those that follow cover one or two cultures through several centuries. This approach tends to be disjointed-one chapter ends in the 19th century, while the next jumps back to the 1400s to trace the rise of another kingdom. The narrative is accurate and informative, but fairly dry. Most of the text focuses on military, economic, and political developments, with little emphasis on the daily lives of ordinary people. Religion is mentioned often, but generally only in terms of its political impact. Black-and-white photographs feature several examples of art, and some discussion of artistic accomplishments is woven into the text. A few first-person accounts enliven the progression of dates, names, and facts. Several insets focus on specific topics or ideas; one intriguingly compares the rule of Tunka Manin of Ghana to that of William the Conqueror. These sections are not sufficiently set apart, though, and are sometimes placed in the middle of other text, disrupting the flow of the narrative. Only one map is included. Despite its flaws, this book covers history that is ignored or briefly summarized in most sources for YAs. The information is useful, though it is not presented in an engaging manner.
Steven Engelfried, West Lynn Library, OR
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. This entry in the very interesting Milestones in Black History series focuses on the power and glory achieved by the West African kingdoms. Spanning more than 1,000 years, the overview begins in the eighth century in Ghana and continues through the fall of the Asante kingdom in 1900. Along the way, Koslow introduces the rulers who expanded the wealth and influence of their countries; discusses cultural, religious, and social events; and examines the development and expansion of the slave trade. The book is illustrated with maps and black-and-white photos of artifacts. An excellent resource for anyone who wants to know more about a neglected area of world history. All the books in this series feature particularly fine introductions as well as chronologies and bibliographies. See the Series Roundup, this issue, for two more titles: Great Ambitions and Marching toward Freedom. Ilene Cooper

Product Details

• Library Binding: 118 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791022668
• ISBN-13: 978-0791022665
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,245,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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