A History of Africa [Paperback]

J.D. Fage (Author), William Tordoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0415252482 | ISBN-13: 978-0415252485 | Edition: 4th

A History of Africa is a thorough narrative history of the continent from its beginnings to the twenty-first century. Long established at the forefront of African Studies, this book addresses the events of the 1990s and beyond.

The issues discussed include:

• post-apartheid South Africa 
• the prospects for democratization in Africa at the beginning of the new millennium
• developments in Muslim North Africa including the threat of Islamic fundamentalism
• economic and social developments including the devastating impact of Third World debt and the provision of debt relief
• cultural, environmental and gender issues in Modern Africa.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'One of the best single volume treatments.' - Times Educational Supplement

About the Author

J.D. Fage was formerly Professor of History at the University of Birmingham and is now retired. His books include The Cambridge History of Africa: From c.500 BC to 1050 AD (CUP, 1979) and Ghana (Greenwood Press, 1983). William Tordoff is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Manchester and author of Government and Politics in Africa (Macmillan, 1997).

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 4th edition (December 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415252482
• ISBN-13: 978-0415252485
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, erudite and readable detailed survey, April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Africa (Paperback)

With a sharp eye towards debunking a few centuries of self-serving white European mythic history about the origins of African societies, but without any particular ax to grind but those of intelligence and accuracy, J.D. Fage's work is scholarly and readable. It is a critical survey, with an excellent bibliography spanning a large number of subjects. His knowledge of west Africa is particularly impressive, and he clearly delineates the powers of both external cultural forces sweeping into Africa (Islam) as well as those that originated there.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars History of Africa, August 29, 2008

By 

Walden "Humane Thinker" (San Francisco Bay Area, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A History of Africa (Paperback)

This book is an incredibly detailed chronicle of Africa. My travels to this great continent inspired me to learn more of its history. My desire was to obtain a greater general knowledge of the "cradle of man" and trace human origins in relationship to cultures, migrations, et cetera. Although I feel that this book is a brilliant work, it is superfluous with detail and exceeds my personal wants or needs. I tend to get lost in the constant infinite details of this book. It is a 'hard read'. The book is a scholar's delight of ad infinitum names, places, and events which I cannot possible retain.