Intended for those interested in the African continent and the diversity of human history, this work looks at Africa's past and reflects on the changing ways it has been imagined and represented. It illustrates key themes in modern thinking about Africa's history with a range of historical examples.

South Africa is popularly perceived as the most influential nation in Africa – a gateway to an entire continent for finance, trade and politics, and a crucial mediator in its neighbours' affairs. On the other hand, post-Apartheid dreams of progress and reform have, in part, collapsed into a morass of corruption, unemployment and criminal violence. A Short History of South Africa is a brief, general account of the history of this most complicated and fascinating country – from the first evidence of hominid existence to the wars of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries that led to the establishment of modern South Africa, the horrors of Apartheid and the optimism following its collapse, as well as the prospects and challenges for the future. This readable and thorough account, illustrated with maps and photographs, is the culmination of a lifetime of researching and teaching the broad spectrum of South African history. Nattrass's passion for her subject shines through, whether she is elucidating the reader on early humans in the cradle of humankind, or describing the tumultuous twentieth-century processes that shaped the democracy that is South Africa today.

Includes text, vocabulary lists, and comprehension questions designed to acquaint students with the history of Africa.

Africa. The cradle of civilisation. From the dawn of human time in prehistoric Africa to the so-called 'Arab Spring' of 2011, this is a comprehensive introduction to the sprawling history of this enormous continent. It charts the origins of the human race and the development of stone age technology through ancient and medieval times and the significance of the Arab presence, the Muslim states and the trans-Saharan trade, the rise and fall of nation states and kingdoms prior to the arrival of Europeans and straight into the state of the continent in the 21st century.

A Short History of African Philosophy discusses major ideas, figures, and schools of thought in philosophy in the African context. While drawing out critical issues in the formation of African philosophy, Barry Hallen focuses on recent scholarship and relevant debates that have made African philosophy critical to understanding the rich and complex cultural heritage of the continent. This revised edition expands the historical perspective, takes account of recent discoveries and new canonical figures, highlights new discussions about gender as a cultural and philosophical phenomenon, clarifies issues regarding indigenous cultures and human rights, and builds on the notion that African philosophy shares methods and concerns of philosophy worldwide. This short reference is an essential resource for students, scholars, and general readers.

Originally published in 1973, this book begins with the arrival of the Europeans in South Africa. It examines the part played by the Dutch, British and Afrikaners, as well the diverse ethnic groups including the Xhosa and Zulus. The complicated period of the Difiqane or ‘Forced Migrations’ is clearly discussed as is the genesis and evolution of Apartheid. Other major events which are discussed include the advent of the 1820 Settlers, the Great Trek, the discovery of diamonds, the Jameson Raid, the occupation of land which became Zimbabwe, the Anglo-Boer Wars and the two World Wars. Accounts are given of Sharpeville and the subsequent introduction of legislation formalising separate development.

This comprehensive overview traces the evolution of modern Mozambique, from its early modern origins in the Indian Ocean trading system and the Portuguese maritime empire to the fifteen-year civil war that followed independence and its continued after-effects. Though peace was achieved in 1992 through international mediation, Mozambique's remarkable recovery has shown signs of stalling. Malyn Newitt explores the historical roots of Mozambican disunity and hampered development, beginning with the divisive effects of the slave trade, the drawing of colonial frontiers in the 1890s and the lasting particularities of the north, centre and south, inherited from the compartmentalized approach of concession companies. Following the nationalist guerrillas' victory against the Portuguese in 1975, these regional divisions resurfaced in a civil war pitting the south against the north and centre, over attempts at far-reaching socioeconomic change. The settlement of the early 1990s is now under threat from a revived insurgency, and the ghosts of the past remain. This book seeks to distill this complex history, and to understand why, twenty-five years after the Peace Accord, Mozambicans still remain among the poorest people in the world.