A Companion to African History (Wiley Blackwell Companions to World History Book 18)

Covers the history of the entire African continent, from prehistory to the present day A Companion to African History embraces the diverse regions, subject matter, and disciplines of the African continent, while also providing chronological and geographical coverage of basic historical developments. Two dozen essays by leading international scholars explore the challenges facing this relatively new field of historical enquiry and present the dynamic ways in which historians and scholars from other fields such as archaeology, anthropology, political science, and economics are forging new directions in thinking and research. Comprised of six parts, the book begins with thematic approaches to African history—exploring the environment, gender and family, medical practices, and more. Section two covers Africa's early history and its pre-colonial past—early human adaptation, the emergence of kingdoms, royal power, and warring states. The third section looks at the era of the slave trade and European expansion. Part four examines the process of conquest—the discovery of diamonds and gold, military and social response, and more. Colonialism is discussed in the sixth section, with chapters on the economy transformed due to the development of agriculture and mining industries. The last section studies the continent from post World War II all the way up to modern times. Aims at capturing the enthusiasms of practicing historians, and encouraging similar passion in a new generation of scholars Emphasizes linkages within Africa as well as between the continent and other parts of the world All chapters include significant historiographical content and suggestions for further reading Written by a global team of writers with unique backgrounds and views Features case studies with illustrative examples In a field traditionally marked by narrow specialisms, A Companion to African History is an ideal book for advanced students, researchers, historians, and scholars looking for a broad yet unique overview of African history as a whole. Covers the history of the entire African continent, from prehistory to the present day A Companion to African History embraces the diverse regions, subject matter, and disciplines of the African continent, while also providing chronological and geographical coverage of basic historical developments. Two dozen essays by leading international scholars explore the challenges facing this relatively new field of historical inquiry and present the dynamic ways in which historians and scholars from other fields such as archaeology, anthropology, political science, and economics are forging new directions in thinking and research.' Comprised of six parts, the book begins with thematic approaches to African history, exploring the environment, gender and family, medical practices, and more. Section two covers Africa's early history and its pre-colonial past'early human adaptation, the emergence of kingdoms, royal power, and warring states. The third section looks at the era of the slave trade and European expansion. Part four examines the process of conquest'the discovery of diamonds and gold, military and social response, and more. Colonialism is discussed in the sixth section, with chapters on the economy transformed due to the development of agriculture and mining industries. The last section studies the continent from post World War II all the way up to modern times.-Aims at capturing the enthusiasms of practicing historians, and encouraging similar passion in a new generation of scholars -Emphasizes linkages within Africa as well as between the continent and other parts of the world -All chapters include significant historiographical content and suggestions for further reading -Written by a global team of writers with unique backgrounds and views -Features case studies with illustrative examples In a field traditionally marked by narrow specialisms, A Companion to African History is an ideal book for advanced students, researchers, historians, and scholars looking for a broad yet unique overview of African history as a whole Content: Notes on Contributors ix1 Introduction: Identities and (Mis)Representations 1William H. WorgerPART I THE PERSONAL 132 Tracing the Roots of Common Sense about Sexuality in Africa 15Marc Epprecht3 Masculinities 35Stephan F. Miescher4 Colonialism, Christianity, and Personhood 59Nimi Wariboko5 Settler Societies 77Nicola Ginsburgh and Will JacksonPART II WOMEN'S ROLES IN INSTITUTIONS OF POWER 936 Women, Authority, and Power in Precolonial Southeast Africa: The Production and Destruction of Historical Knowledge on Queen Mother Ntombazi of the Ndwandwe 95Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu7 Love, Courtship, and Marriage in Africa 119Nwando Achebe8 Slavery and Women in Africa: Changing Definitions, Continuing Problems 143Claire C. RobertsonPART III FAMILY AND COMMUNITY 1619 Kinship in African History 163James L. Giblin10 Ethnicity in Southern Africa 179Michael R. Mahoney11 Ethnicity and Race in African Thought 199Jonathon Glassman12 Islam in African History 225Sean Hanretta and Shobana Shankar13 Refugees in African History 247Brett ShadlePART IV AFRICANS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT 26514 Science in Africa: A History of Ingenuity and Invention in African Iron Technology 267Peter R. Schmidt15 Africa and Environmental History 28Gregory H. Maddox16 Health and Medicine in African History 307Karen E. Flint17 Wealth and Poverty in African History 329Morten JervenPART V AFRICANS AND THE WORLD 35118 The Idea of the Atlantic World from an Africanist Perspective 353Walter Hawthorne19 Swahili Literature and the Writing of African History 367Ann Biersteker20 Africa and the Cold War 383Timothy Scarnecchia21 The Horn of Africa from the Cold War to the War on Terror 401Awet T. WeldemichaelPART VI AFRICAN SELF?REPRESENTATIONS 41922 The Art of Memory and the Chancery of Sinnar 421Jay Spaulding23 Apartheid Forgotten and Remembered 431Nancy L. Clark and William H. Worger24 Cultural Resistance on Robben Island: Songs of Struggle and Liberation in Southern Africa 459Neo Lekgotla laga Ramoupi25 African Historians and Popular Culture 483Charles AmblerIndex 501