Explores how the conception of Africa and its history has changed over time and narrates the story of this vast continent over the past 10,000 years.Africa is a huge continent, as large as the more habitable areas of Europe and Asia put together. It has a history immensely long, yet the study of that history as an academic discipline in its own right is little more than fiftyyears old. Since then the subject has grown enormously, but the question of what this history is and how it has been approached still needs to be asked, not least to answer the question of why should we study it. This book takes as its subject the last 10,000 years of African history, and traces the way in which human society on the continent has evolved from communities of hunters and gatherers to the complex populations of today. Approaching that history through its various dimensions: archaeological, ethnographic, written, scriptural, European and contemporary, it looks at how the history of such a vast region over such a length of time has been conceived and presented, and how it is to be investigated. The problem itself is historical, and an integral part of the history with which it is concerned, beginning with the changing awareness over the centuries of what Africa might be. MichaelBrett thus traces the history of Africa not only on the ground, but also in the mind, in order to make his own historical contribution to the debate. Michael Brett is Emeritus Reader in the History of North Africa at SOAS.

Brett, Michael, 1934-

Boydell & Brewer, Limited

Boydell et Brewer

BOYE6

African history titles, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2013

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

Woodbridge, Suffolk (GB), 2013

1. publ, Woodbridge, 2013

1, US, 2013

Africa Is A Huge Continent, As Large As The More Habitable Areas Of Europe And Asia Put Together. It Has A History Immensely Long, Yet The Study Of That History As An Academic Discipline In Its Own Right Is Little More Than Fifty Years Old. Since Then The Subject Has Grown Enormously, But The Question Of What This History Is And How It Has Been Approached Still Needs To Be Asked, Not Least To Answer The Question Of Why Should We Study It. This Book Takes As Its Subject The Last 10,000 Years Of African History, And Traces The Way In Which Human Society On The Continent Has Evolved From Communities Of Hunters And Gatherers To The Complex Populations Of Today. Approaching That History Through Its Various Dimensions: Archaeological, Ethnographic, Written, Scriptural, European And Contemporary, It Looks At How The History Of Such A Vast Region Over Such A Length Of Time Has Been Conceived And Presented, And How It Is To Be Investigated. The Problem Itself Is Historical, And An Integral Part Of The History With Which It Is Concerned, Beginning With The Changing Awareness Over The Centuries Of What Africa Might Be. Michael Brett Thus Traces The History Of Africa Not Only On The Ground, But Also In The Mind, In Order To Make His Own Historical Contribution To The Debate. Michael Brett Is Emeritus Reader In The History Of North Africa At Soas. The Problem Of African History. The Problem Of Definition -- Solving The Problem: The Search For Information -- Solving The Problem: The Writing Of African History -- The Making Of African Society. From Hunting & Gathering To Herding & Farming -- From Herding & Farming To Cities & States -- The Peopling Of The South -- Men & Women -- From Kinship To Kingship -- The Mind Of Africa -- The Empires Of The South -- Africa In The World. Ancient, Medieaeval & Modern -- Ancient Egypt & Nubia -- The World Of Greece & Rome -- Rome Beyond The Imperial Frontiers -- Christianity In The World Of Late Antiquity -- The Arabs & Islam -- Islam, The Sahara & The Land Of The Blacks -- Islam & Christianity In The East -- Ibn Battuta & Ibn Khaldun -- The Unification Of Africa. The Age Of Empire -- An Islamic Africa -- Between The Americas & The Indies -- A History Of Change -- After Napoleon -- The Reconfiguration Of Africa -- The Reorganisation Of Africa -- The Reaction Of Africa -- The Arrival Of African History. The Resurgence Of Africa -- Africa In Contemporary History -- Approaching African History. Michael Brett. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 332-343) And Index.

"Africa is a huge continent, as large as the more habitable areas of Europe and Asia put together. It has a history immensely long, yet the study of that history as an academic discipline in its own right is little more than fifty years old. Since then the subject has grown enormously, but the question of what this history is and how it has been approached still needs to be asked, not least to answer the question of why should we study it. This book takes as its subject the last 10,000 years of African history, and traces the way in which human society on the continent has evolved from communities of hunters and gatherers to the complex populations of today. Approaching that history through its various dimensions: archaeological, ethnographic, written, scriptural, European and contemporary, it looks at how the history of such a vast region over such a length of time has been conceived and presented, and how it is to be investigated. The problem itself is historical, and an integral part of the history with which it is concerned, beginning with the changing awareness over the centuries of what Africa might be. Michael Brett thus traces the history of Africa not only on the ground, but also in the mind, in order to make his own historical contribution to the debate."--Dust jacket

Traces the last 10,000 years of African history, and the study of that history as an academic discipline in its own right, to describe on the one hand the growth of the concept of Africa, and on the other to show the ways in which the narrative itself has been constructed and its content understood. Michael Brett thus traces the history of Africa, not only on the ground, but also in the mind, in order to make his own historical contribution to the debate

xi, 356 p. : 25 cm
Africa is a huge continent, as large as the more habitable areas of Europe and Asia put together. This book takes as its subject the last 10,000 years of African history, and traces the way in which human society on the continent has evolved from communities of hunters and gatherers to the complex populations of today
Includes bibliographical references (p. 332-343) and index

2023-06-28