Items related to Fortunes of Africa: A 5,000 Year History of Wealth,...
Africa has been coveted for its riches ever since the era of the Pharoahs. In past centuries, it was the lure of gold, ivory and slaves that drew fortune-seekers, merchant-adventurers and conquerors from afar. In modern times, the focus of attention is on oil, diamonds and other valuable minerals.
Land was another prize. The Romans relied on their colonies in north Africa for vital grain shipments to feed the population of Rome. Arab invaders followed in their wake, eventually colonising the entire region. In modern times, foreign corporations have acquired huge tracts of land to secure food supplies needed abroad, just as the Romans did.
In this vast and vivid panorama of history, Martin Meredith follows the fortunes of Africa over a period of 5,000 years. With compelling narrative, he traces the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms and empires; the spread of Christianity and Islam; the enduring quest for gold and other riches; the exploits of explorers and missionaries; and the impact of European colonisation. He examines too the fate of modern African states and concludes with a glimpse of their future.
His cast of characters includes religious leaders, mining magnates, warlords, dictators and many other legendary figures, among them Mansa Musa, ruler of the medieval Mali empire, said to be the richest man the world has ever known. 'I speak of Africa,' Shakespeare wrote, 'and of golden joys'.
This is history on an epic scale.
Land was another prize. The Romans relied on their colonies in north Africa for vital grain shipments to feed the population of Rome. Arab invaders followed in their wake, eventually colonising the entire region. In modern times, foreign corporations have acquired huge tracts of land to secure food supplies needed abroad, just as the Romans did.
In this vast and vivid panorama of history, Martin Meredith follows the fortunes of Africa over a period of 5,000 years. With compelling narrative, he traces the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms and empires; the spread of Christianity and Islam; the enduring quest for gold and other riches; the exploits of explorers and missionaries; and the impact of European colonisation. He examines too the fate of modern African states and concludes with a glimpse of their future.
His cast of characters includes religious leaders, mining magnates, warlords, dictators and many other legendary figures, among them Mansa Musa, ruler of the medieval Mali empire, said to be the richest man the world has ever known. 'I speak of Africa,' Shakespeare wrote, 'and of golden joys'.
This is history on an epic scale.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"A gripping tale of insatiable greed--personal and collective."--"Booklist, " starred review
"[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arresting... [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of facts"--"The Economist"
"This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered."--"Publishers Weekly" starred review
"A gripping tale of insatiable greed--personal and collective."--"Booklist, " starred review
"[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--"Kirkus Reviews"
Even the longtime specialist is likely to learn lots of things because of the extraordinary amount of ground the author covers. Howard French, "The Wall Street Journal"
Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arresting [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of facts "The Economist"
This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered. "Publishers Weekly" starred review
A gripping tale of insatiable greedpersonal and collective. "Booklist, " starred review
[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economicsrichly detaileda useful study. "Kirkus Reviews"
"
"Even the longtime specialist is likely to learn lots of things because of the extraordinary amount of ground the author covers."--Howard French, The Wall Street Journal "Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arresting... [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of facts"--The Economist "This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered."--Publishers Weekly starred review "A gripping tale of insatiable greed--personal and collective."--Booklist, starred review "[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--Kirkus Reviews
About the Author:
"A gripping tale of insatiable greed--personal and collective."--"Booklist, " starred review
"[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arresting... [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of facts"--"The Economist"
"This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered."--"Publishers Weekly" starred review
"A gripping tale of insatiable greed--personal and collective."--"Booklist, " starred review
"[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--"Kirkus Reviews"
Even the longtime specialist is likely to learn lots of things because of the extraordinary amount of ground the author covers. Howard French, "The Wall Street Journal"
Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arresting [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of facts "The Economist"
This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered. "Publishers Weekly" starred review
A gripping tale of insatiable greedpersonal and collective. "Booklist, " starred review
[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economicsrichly detaileda useful study. "Kirkus Reviews"
"
"Even the longtime specialist is likely to learn lots of things because of the extraordinary amount of ground the author covers."--Howard French, The Wall Street Journal "Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arresting... [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of facts"--The Economist "This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered."--Publishers Weekly starred review "A gripping tale of insatiable greed--personal and collective."--Booklist, starred review "[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economics...richly detailed...a useful study."--Kirkus Reviews
Martin Meredith is a journalist, biographer and historian who has written extensively on Africa and its recent history. He is the author of many books including The State of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence; Mugabe: Power, Plunder, and the Struggle for Zimbabwe, and Mandela: A Biography. He lives near Oxford.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
- Publication date2014
- ISBN 10 1471135446
- ISBN 13 9781471135446
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages768
- Rating
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Book Description Paperback. 914. Africa has been coveted for its riches ever since the era of the Pharoahs. In past centuries, it was the lure of gold, ivory and slaves that drew fortune-seekers, merchant-adventurers and conquerors from afar. In modern times, the focus of attention is on oil, diamonds and other valuable minerals. Land was another prize. The Romans relied on their colonies in north Africa for vital grain shipments to feed the population of Rome. Arab invaders followed in their wake, eventually colonising the entire region. In modern times, foreign corporations have acquired huge tracts of land to secure food supplies needed abroad, just as the Romans did. In this vast and vivid panorama of history, Martin Meredith follows the fortunes of Africa over a period of 5,000 years. With compelling narrative, he traces the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms and empires; the spread of Christianity and Islam; the enduring quest for gold and other riches; the exploits of explorers and missionaries; and the impact of European colonisation. He examines too the fate of modern African states and concludes with a glimpse of their future. His cast of characters includes religious leaders, mining magnates, warlords, dictators and many other legendary figures, among them Mansa Musa, ruler of the medieval Mali empire, said to be the richest man the world has ever known. 'I speak of Africa,' Shakespeare wrote, 'and of golden joys'. This is history on an epic scale. very slightly damaged copy with title page removed but otherwise in unread condition. Seller Inventory # 3687725
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