The History Atlas of Africa : From the First Humans to the Emergence of a New South Africa (History Atlas Series) [Hardcover]

Samuel Kasule (Author, Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0028625803 | ISBN-13: 978-0028625805 | Publication Date: June 1998 | Edition: 1

Africa is the continent from which humanity emerged a million or more years ago and which may yet teach today-s diverse humans the art of living together in tolerance.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Samuel Kasule, a professor of African literature, offers a wide-ranging view of African history in this heavily illustrated yet slender atlas. Proceeding chronologically, he covers topics such as the origins of humankind, the development of settled agriculture in the valley of the Nile, and the arrival of the first European colonists. Although the atlas covers African history after World War II rather too lightly, it is a useful student reference, nonetheless.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company.; 1 edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028625803
• ISBN-13: 978-0028625805
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Education & Reference > Atlases & Maps > Historical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth noting, maybe worth having..., May 30, 2001

By 

M. Mello (Brasil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The History Atlas of Africa : From the First Humans to the Emergence of a New South Africa (History Atlas Series) (Hardcover)

Like all other atlases in this series, the African volume is interesting, reasonably comprehensive, but way, WAY, too superficial.

The publishers have the merrit of being the first to attempt a continent-by-continent historical atlas coverage. Problem is, their small books are sometimes as much detailed as the corresponding chapter of a more accomplished, generic, World Atlas, like The Times'.

The quality of the cartography/art is so dishearteningly poor that it is not worth mentioning. Just do not expect anything remotely similar to National Geographic/The Times graphic quality.

All this said, I buy these atlases, in the hope that the publishers will eventualy decide to realy invest in these titles, making a new, wholly improved edition. You can make the same and also get some value for your money.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hoped for more ,got less!, June 14, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The History Atlas of Africa : From the First Humans to the Emergence of a New South Africa (History Atlas Series) (Hardcover)

I got this atlas thinking it was going to be like the atlas I got as a gift years ago.I bought it as a gift for my nieces and nephews but It did not even draw a glance from them.For one thing its too small and although the Information Is good, the artwork Is somewhat dry and unatractive to most youngters.I hope that they put more pictures, charts, and sidebar Information, ( although the maps are good)If they decide to revise these books, because they are worth having!

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I hoped, April 29, 2010

By 

James D. Crabtree "Doc Crabtree" (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The History Atlas of Africa : From the First Humans to the Emergence of a New South Africa (History Atlas Series) (Hardcover)

I needed a good African reference and picked this one up when I saw it. I am sorry I did. The maps are not as good as I thought. One map was marked "European Reconnaisance" when it should have been titled "European EXPLORATION." It only discussed post-colonial conflicts in other, later chapters which made it sound as if these had to do with ousting the Europeans (one map regarding this is particularly deceptive) but worst of all it jumps from decolonization to the end of Apartheid with nothing in between. No maps showing coups or the length of dictatorships within Africa. No maps showing post-colonial civil wars. And no maps showing famine and disease as a result of post-colonial policies.

I would hold out for a better book.