The Cambridge History of Africa (Volume 3) (Hardcover)

~ Roland Oliver (Editor) "The Fatimid conquest of Egypt in AD 969 was accomplished without much difficulty, as the country had for some time already been in internal chaos..." (more)
Key Phrases: specialized pastoralists, interlacustrine region, military fiefs, North Africa, Red Sea, Askiya Muhammad (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'... a tome that should occupy a prominent place in the library of every person concerned with world affairs both past and present.' International Journal of African Historical Studies

Product Description

The five and a half centuries described in this volume were those in which Iron Age cultures passed from their early and experimental phases into stages of maturity characterized by long-distance trade and complex, many-tiered political systems. In Egypt and North Africa it was a period of religious and cultural consolidation when the Arabic language and the faith of Islam were adopted by the majority of the indigenous Copts and Berbers. In the sub-Saharan Savanna it was a period rather of penetration when Muslim merchants and clerics built up small but significant minorities of Negro African converts. Muslim migrants conquered the Nilotic Sudan, encircled Christian Ethiopia and settled the coastline of eastern Africa. Intercontinental trade developed across the whole width of the Sahara and also toward the Indian Ocean ports. During the last century and a half of the period the Portuguese opened the Atlantic coasts and competed with the Muslim traders of the Indian Ocean. But throughout the period African states, large and small, were strong enough, relatively, to control their visitors from the outside world. The main significance of the outsiders, whether Muslim or Christian, was as literate observers of the African scene.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 816 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 28, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521209811
• ISBN-13: 978-0521209816
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,550,178 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too detailed and quite difficult to follow, February 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cambridge History of Africa (Volume 2) (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful source of detailed information about almost anything about the African History. However, as a University student, I've found it too difficult as textbook. I also think that it lacks useful maps to clarify geographically the populations he is dealing with.