Customer Reviews

A History of Africa

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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.

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.