ABSTRACT

This is a survey of pre-colonial West Africa, written by the internationally respected author and journalist, Basil Davidson. He takes as his starting point his successful textA History of West Africa 1000-1800, but he has reworked his new text specially for a wider international readership. In the process he offers a fascinating introduction to the rich societies and cultures of Africa before the coming of the Europeans.

chapter |14 pages

A Very Long History

chapter |12 pages

Pioneers in Ancient Ghana

chapter |12 pages

The Majesty of Mali

chapter |16 pages

Songhay Achievement

chapter |28 pages

Kanem-Bornu and the Hausa States

chapter |14 pages

Early Senegambia

chapter |14 pages

Religion, the Arts, and Learning

chapter |14 pages

The Organization of Society

chapter |14 pages

New Pressures from Outside

chapter |10 pages

Senegambia after 1700

chapter |14 pages

The Union of the Golden Stool

chapter |7 pages

After Many Disasters