michareads's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.25
A brief introduction into the complex and multifaceted discipline of African history. This is a book about historiography!
siria's review against another edition
4.0
This is less an introduction to the history of Africa than it is to the continent's historiography. Parker does give a brief overview of major historical developments, but he mostly focuses on changing perceptions of Africa and its people. It's quite a concentrated, dense read, but I think a rewarding and an interesting one.
miocyon's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting little book, if not quite what I was expecting/wanting. This is not a blow-by-blow, full of dates and personages history book. It's more a book about the history of Africa as an object for study. There are a few specific stories in it, but mostly it's about how the concept of Africa has changed over the years, both for the people in and outside of the continent. I certainly learned something even if it wasn't what I wanted to.
sherpawhale's review against another edition
3.0
Really an introduction to understanding how historians have attempted to understand African history. This is dovetailing nicely with my class on Colonial Africa, but I suspect for the person who actually wants African history, this is not the place to start.
giantarms's review against another edition
OK, so, wait. What I think you are trying to tell me is that . . . the history of Africa . . . is complicated.
Cool, thanks. Good to know.
(I sound angry, but really I do feel like I know more than I did, so, it's all right.)
Cool, thanks. Good to know.
(I sound angry, but really I do feel like I know more than I did, so, it's all right.)
dejunker's review against another edition
4.0
In the process of learning how to define African History (which is what this book is about), much African History is learned. What is the continent approach used for European history? Rulers. The very thing not so easily done in Africa. Africa needs to be respected for its diversity and not condescendingly generalized. Good summary of approaches and contexts.