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misskeesa's review against another edition
4.0
Simple, straightforward, and "readable," this is a good introduction text to African history. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I must point out that the author took about 165 pages to say basically the same two things: African history is difficult to recapture because nothing was written down (apart from Eurocentric versions of African history, and even that only after a certain date) and African history is difficult to describe because of the outflux of the slave trade and the influx of European settlers and colonists. There you have it: the entire book in a single sentence. :)
However, that said, I did enjoy the book, and certainly feel that I learned something about Africa. I also came away with a new respect for the difficulties of historical research on a continent with no written language (up until very recently, historically speaking) and where building designs and materials preclude even the possibility of archaeological helps.
However, that said, I did enjoy the book, and certainly feel that I learned something about Africa. I also came away with a new respect for the difficulties of historical research on a continent with no written language (up until very recently, historically speaking) and where building designs and materials preclude even the possibility of archaeological helps.
akira70000's review against another edition
3.0
Made caveats were made about how difficult it is to summarize the whole history, so maybe a very short introduction is not the right avenue. The explanations were so coarse-grained yet with examples very specific to individual, sometimes pre-modern nations, such that an unfamiliar reader (presumably the target audience) like me might not get much more out of it than a list of Wikipedia articles I have to read.
Also, some takes on transatlantic slave trade felt at least bit controversial and might need a more neutral approach.
Finally, maybe they could've commissioned *not* two white guys to write the book.
Also, some takes on transatlantic slave trade felt at least bit controversial and might need a more neutral approach.
Finally, maybe they could've commissioned *not* two white guys to write the book.
summerofsoaps's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting little book. It was definitely interesting, but it was more of a historiography, or history of the study of African history, than an introduction to African history itself. I would have liked more chronology and meat in a history text, but as an historiographical (is that even a word?!) essay, it held my attention. Three stars.