Amazon.com: Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa: Archaeology, History, Languages, Cultures, and Environments (9780761989035): Joseph O. Vogel: Books

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076198903X | ISBN-13: 978-0761989035 | Publication Date: August 1997

This comprehensive encyclopaedia of pre-colonial African life provides the essential historical, linguistic, cultural and anthropological foundation for research in, or concerning Africa.

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Working around circumstances reflecting the typical environmental hurdles, communication breakdowns, and sometimes difficult access experienced in remote areas, researcher and scientist Joseph Vogel has brought together, over a period of four years, a solid body of current learning on precolonial Africa. Organized in the form of essays 2 to 10 pages long, contributed by more than 80 experts from around the world, material is grouped into two major areas. The first sections contain background information covering environmental conditions, archaeological and anthropological research, and the development of technologies such as metalworking. The later sections describe how, over time, the diverse populations of this huge continent have developed and adapted to their surroundings and circumstances.

Although the stated focus of this encyclopedia is on the sub-Saharan areas of precolonial Africa, material on the countries north of the Sahara is included where applicable, but to a lesser degree. The exception is Egypt, which is covered more extensively, reflecting the broad and important influences of that country's geography. Similarly, throughout the essays, some explanation of currently existing conditions is given where these are clearly a continuation of precolonial conditions, as with the discussion of the diseases malaria and yellow fever. No mention is made of such plagues as the Ebola virus and AIDS, as these are recent phenomena.

Included in the encyclopedia are simple maps; illustrations of artifacts, rock art, and cave paintings; and diagrams, statistical charts, and data tables. Each essay concludes with a bibliography of further reference material. The well-organized index contains cross-references between subject areas, such as Stone Age tools and blade technology, providing quick access to related material and terminology. Other components include a list of contributors giving the authors' affiliations and a list of figures.

Apart from the factual material contained in the encyclopedia, readers will find details concerning the process of gathering information, obstacles encountered by researchers both before colonization and as a result of colonial strictures, and the need to evaluate or substantiate assumptions made by early explorers and scholars in the absence of early written records. This comprehensive look at African culture and history should be a useful addition to academic libraries and public libraries with research collections. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

An impressive array of authors, topics, and ideas that will allow the book to serve as a reference for those needing to venture outside their specializations. (African Studies Quarterly )

A solid body of current learning on precolonial Africa. . . . A useful addition to academic libraries and public libraries with research collections. (Ala Booklist )

The Encyclopedia stands up quite well as a reference work and introduction to the field of African anthropology....Its greatest strength is its wide-ranging synthesis of the most current archaeological data and theory. I have found the book useful for both lecture preparation and short reading assignments for students....I would recommend the volume to those who are interested in sorting out the mass of anthropological and archaeological data that pertain to precolonial Africa, as well as individuals who teach courses on early African history. (Kairn A. Klieman African Studies Review )

This is a large and ambitious work, whose 'primary function' is to be a 'summary of the current state of Africanist archaeology.' As such, it is successful. (Erika Bourguignon Research In African Literature )

Sets out to present a single-volume overview of the archaeology of sub-Saharan Africa from the earliest hominids through to the 19th century....Joseph Vogel and his editorial advisors are to be congratulated in putting together such a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the continent's past. (American Journal Of Archaeology )

Very well designed and produced, this work will be essential for all universities, colleges, organizations with a strong archaeological or anthropological emphasis or African studies programs, and for large public libraries. (Choice )

Well-organized, thoughtful, highly usable resource for a diverse audience....Unlike most encyclopedias, one could be tempted to read the volume from cover to cover, and if one did, would come away with a nuanced synthesis of precolonial Africa, and not one that has been stripped of the contemporary politics of the discipline. Contributors have accomplished the task of synthesizing their topics without being bland.…The book would be a solid resource to use as reserve reading in an African archaeology course, to back up and update existing texts and readers. (International Journal Of African Historical Studies )

A welcome, if ambitious, summation of the multidisciplinary scholarship of precolonial Africa to date. Joseph Vogel successfully brings together 81 specialists covering archaeological, historical, linguistic, socio-cultural anthropological and environmental data and research. The volume covers a range of issues that will be of interest to the Africanist and non-Africanist alike, helping to dispel many of the myths and mysteries surrounding the 'Dark Continent.' (African-American Archaeology )

It is a wonderful compendium, and the editors and his hundred collaborators have produced an extremely useful reference book. It is more than a basic listing: The arrangement of the entries into thematic groups which appear in developmental sequence, the clarity and readability of the vast majority of the articles, and an appropriate (but not overwhelming) number of bibliographic citations and illustrations, make the book a very 'user-friendly' one. (Journal Of Multilingual And Multicultural Development )

As a resource in Africa, interested students, scholars, and general audiences will find it invaluable. Vogel is to be commended for his efforts in producing and editing such a fine volume. The breadth of the material covered is almost staggering, and much of the success is due to having scholars at the top of their field writing summary essays. I highly recommend this volume to anyone with an interest in Africa. (Amy L. Young Mississippi Archaeology ) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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