Warrior Women: The Amazons Of Dahomey And The Nature Of War [Hardcover]

Robert Edgerton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2000

Some prominent anthropologists have been joined by an eminent military historian in declaring that military combat - at all times and in all places - has been a male activity. They advance many reasons for this pattern, some more plausible than others. In fact, although warfare is typically conducted by men, in various places and at various times, women have fought bravely and well, and in the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the nineteenth century, they formed the elite corps of a successful army. Many European visitors to Dahomey commented favorably on their military bearing, finding them more impressive in discipline and maneuver than male Dahomean soldiers. When France invaded Dahomey in the early 1890s, their superior weapons won the war but all those French officers and men who wrote about their bloody battles against Dahomey declared not only that these women warriors were superior to male Dahomean soldiers, but that they were the equal of the French. Edgerton describes the history of these ”Amazon,” as they became known, their recruitment, training, and battle experience. Of particular interest to scholars interested in culture and gender today, these women believed that in order for them to carry out their martial roles, they had to transform themselves into men. How this was done, how the Amazons lived and fought, and what their experiences might mean for the understanding of women and warfare both in the past and present day are the subjects of this book.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Although warfare is typically conducted by men, in various places and at various times women have fought bravely and well, and in the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 19th century, they formed the elite corps of a successful army. Many European visitors to Dahomey commented favorably on their military bearing, finding them more impressive in discipline and maneuver than male Dahomean soldiers. When France invaded Dahomey in the early 1890s, their superior weapons won the war, but all those French officers and men who wrote about their bloody battles against Dahomey declared not only that these women warriors were superior to male Dahomean soldiers, but also that they were the equals of the French. Robert B. Edgerton describes the history of these "Amazons" (as they became known) and their recruitment, training, and battle experience. Of particular interest to scholars interested in culture and gender today, these women believed that in order for them to carry out their martial roles, they had to transform themselves into men. How this was done, how the Amazons lived and fought, and what their experiences might mean for the understanding of women and warfare both in the past and the present are the subjects of Warrior Women.

About the Author

Author of over twenty books on sociology and anthropology, including The End of the Asante Empire and The Cloak of Competence, Robert B. Edgerton teaches at the UCLA School of Medicine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (June 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813337119
• ISBN-13: 978-0813337111
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > History > Africa > Benin

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terribly Researched Book, March 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Warrior Women: The Amazons Of Dahomey And The Nature Of War (Hardcover)

Robert B. Edgerton's book is probably the worst book on the Amazons of Dahomey. Unsubstantiated (and wrong) accounts of lesbianism, ill-researched 'facts', and sweeping generalisations abound, not only of the women themselves, but of other African cultures, most notably the Kikuyu and the bride-price custom he writes about.

Anyone seeking a concise history of these women warriors should see Stanley B. Alpern's 'Amazons of Black Sparta'. The Amazon reviews of Alpern's work point to the book's excellence and worth.