A well detailed overview of the complete history of Africa ...
341739
A well detailed overview of the complete history of Africa. A starting point for anyone wanting to study an African region.
3594817
I used the Bradt guide during my recent trip to Ethiopia and the print guide is invaluable because internet resources on Ethiopia travel are frankly pretty lacking. The only alternative is Lonely Planet but I never recommend LP except as a last resort if no other guides are out there. The history and culture section was comprehensive enough to get a feel for the background of a lot of the historic sites (Lalibela's rock churches, Gonder's castles, etc.) and understand everything from the love of injera to the different annoyances in each specific location. It is truly comprehensive so even though I had enough information on major tourist points I visited such as Axum and Bahir Dar as a do-it-myself traveler, the guide does detail numerous smaller towns and cities and on-the-road points of interest, so think of it as an investment for multiple trips. The final thing I love about the guide is the honesty about the challenges of traveling in Ethiopia, down to bringing a flashlight to Addis airport if you need to claim a lost bag or young kids sometimes pelting you with stones. That sort of information is probably the most important in mentally preparing to visit.
1246535
The book focus on the encounter of West Africa with the diverse religious traditions that has shaped the sub-regional history. It traced the advent of Christianity into West Africa, beginning with the Portuguese and their  desire to find the Kingdom of John Prester. This attempt led to the  interactive history between the people of the area and various Western  forms of Christianity, and eventually of colonialism. The author also  expressed that prior to Christianity  acculturation of elements of the  traditional  th African religious experience had occurred precipitated by  contact with Islam. This book provides a wonderful insight into the early  period of Christianity in West Africa, and articulates its pre-Christian  heritage significantly. I enjoy the book and recommend it to those who want  to have any meaningful resources to the happenings in Africa since the 15th  Century. This book provides another view of the tripple heritage position  as is forcefully articulated by Ali Mazrui and others.
1757780
This is THE history of Indonesia from the Portugese to the Second World War.  Vlekke's work is comprehensive and accessible.  He goes into detail explaining the various myths that both Europeans and Indonesians used to explain the course of events and cunningly weaves the real story of the East Indies out of hundreds of years of betrayals, deals, wars, famine, disease, prosperity, peace, and commodities trading.

My major gripe is the maps.  They are incomplete--Vlekke mentions dozens of places that aren't on them.  It's hard to find good maps of the region and a history of this nature should take pains to have adequate cartography to accompany the text.
2509752
Wonders of The African World is one of the best, fascinating and interesting books l have read on African history and its past. Dr. Gates Jr., set out to explore the African heritage and focuses on the history of the Slave trade and the several African Kingdoms and countries where Africans were taken into Slavery to the New World. AS an African and a scholar l found this book and Dr. Gates Jr., PBS series to be very informative to both African American and non-African Americans.

Joseph O.Asagba,Ph. D.
2104609
This book is one of the great items to have in any ones library the needs to educate them selves on the
the African history and to educate their children, I will recommend this book to anyone interested in the
history of the great African Land.
4937853
I read this book because I needed to know about the history of an african country I was to work in. It helps to understand where some of the beliefs they have originated.
3716077
A very well written and unbiased account of the history of Africa since independence that makes very good but horrifying reading. Having lived in Africa most of my life and experienced post independence in Kenya and Zimbabwe, also South Africa, I can see that there is no exaggeration in the accounts. It does not give much encouragement for the future of this magnificent continent. This is not a book to entertain but to present what has actually happened. A well worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in Africa.
2162877
Excellent overview for collectors and amateurs alike. A great book with which to begin a library of African art.
779924
This book provides a great but brief overview of the Age of African exploration by Europeans. If you're already familiar with the high points, other books that go into detail about a particular area might be better for you.
491095
I am an American who is currently living in Lesotho and I have found "A Short History of Lesotho" to be both informative and helpful as I strive to understand more about this country and the people.  Although the first chapter of the book is rather dry, it gives the reader a good background of the cultural history and ethnic practices of the Basotho and is therefore a required part of the book.  Without understanding why the cultural practices were important, one will fail to understand the reasoning behind certain actions of the first king and founder of Lesotho, King Moshoeshoe.  The book begins to pick up in interest as we learn more about King Moshoeshoe and his efforts to create a country that honors past traditions and history while moving into the future.  It explains the history of the Basotho (people of Lesotho) with the British, the missionaries who brought about change in Lesotho, and the constant land wars with the Boers and other trekkers and tribes from South Africa.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about this unique, diverse, and beautiful country.  If you ever make it to Maseru (the capital city of Lesotho), this book is available at the Basotho Hat Gift Shop and The Shield (Gift Shop).
3341248
A very British take on the African culture. Detailed Oriented and exceptional information followed by great illustrations and a realm of photographs to break up the text. A careful read is recommended to fully understand the text due to the fact that it is a higher level read.
3955957
'Congo' is one of those rare history books that covers a vast expanse of time while keeping focused on the  impact of events on the population of the country. All this without becoming tedious. Quite an accomplishment in my opinion .
3909966
It's a good overview with plenty of details, but moves along well.  It has good coverage of the Papacy, the empire and the other powers.
4332382
Reveals the truth and the actual plans Europeans had for taking over Africa and rob the continent of its vast riches.
1428561
The colonial history of the world is very carefully organised and presented to the reader. You get a comprehensive and schematised grasp of history, very smart classifications and descriptions of countries behaviour.
1608810
Brother Toure does an outstanding job putting the historian in his own historical context. John Henrik Clarke's intellectual influences are only surpassed by the tremendous volume of work he put in his 60-plus-year journey into study of Africa and the African. And Toure, who uses well the collection of papers Clarke left at the Schomburg, pours on the detail--how he taught, what he taught, where and when. I thought I knew a lot about John Henrik Clarke before reading this book. Toure's intellectually thorough work is Afrocentric without apology. For John Henrik Clarke, it's a quite appropriate lens.