History of Modern Africa - 1800 to the Present

The new, fully-updated edition of the acclaimed textbook covering 200 years of African history
 
A History of Modern Africa explores two centuries of the continent's political, economic, and social history. This thorough yet accessible text help readers to understand key concepts, recognize significant themes, and identify the processes that shaped the modern history of Africa. Emphasis is placed on the consequences of colonial rule, and the links between the precolonial and postcolonial eras. Author Richard Reid, a prominent scholar and historian on the subject, argues that Africa's struggle for economic and political stability in the nineteenth century escalated and intensified through the twentieth century, the effects of which are still felt in the present day.
 
The new third edition offers substantial updates and revisions that consider recent events and historiography. Greater emphasis is placed on African agency, particularly during the colonial period, and the importance of the long-term militarization of African political culture. Discussions of the postcolonial period have been updated to reflect recent developments, including those in North Africa. Adopting a long-term approach to current African issues, this text:
* Explores the legacies of the nineteenth century and the colonial period in the context of the contemporary era
* Highlights the role of nineteenth century and long-term internal dynamics in Africa's modern challenges
* Combines recent scholarship with concise and effective narrative
* Features maps, illustrations, expanded references, and comprehensive endnotes
 
A History of Modern Africa: 1800 to the Present, 3rd Edition is an excellent introduction to the subject for undergraduate students in relevant courses, and for general readers with interest in modern African history and current affairs.

List of contents

List of Maps xiv
 
List of Plates xv
 
Acknowledgements for the Third Edition
 
Acknowledgments for the Second Edition xvii
 
Acknowledgments xviii
 
1 Introduction: Understanding the Contours of Africa's Past 1
 
A Brief History of the Study of Africa 5
 
Land 8
 
People 12
 
Part I Polity, Society, and Economy: Ingenuity and Violence in the Nineteenth Century 17
 
2 Western Transitions: Slave Trade and "Legitimate" Commerce in Atlantic Africa 23
 
States and Societies during the Atlantic Slave Trade 24
 
"Illegal" Traffic: The Nineteenth-Century Slave Trade 28
 
Mineral and Vegetable: "Legitimate" Commerce 32
 
Change and Continuity in Forest and Savannah 35
 
3 Eastern Intrusions: Slaves and Ivory in Eastern Africa 42
 
Commercial Horizons: Slaves and Ivory 43
 
Maritime Empire: Zanzibar 48
 
Statehood, Conflict, and Trade (1): The Lacustrine Zone 52
 
Statehood, Conflict, and Trade (2): Northeastern Africa 59
 
4 Southern Frontiers: Colony and Revolution in Southern Africa 65
 
African State and Society to around 1800 65
 
War, Revolution, and the Zulu Impact 67
 
Cape Colonialism: White Settlement and the "Native Question" 71
 
Voortrekkers: White Communities in the Interior 74
 
Balances of Power to around 1870 75
 
Part II Africa and Islam: Revival and Reform in the Nineteenth Century 77
 
5 Revival and Reaction: North African Islam 81
 
Old and New Identities: Brotherhoods of the Desert 81
 
Trade and Conflict in the Mediterranean World: Ottoman and European Frontiers 82
 
Changing Society (1): The Maghreb 86
 
Changing Society (2): Egypt 89
 
6 Jihad: Revolutions in Western Africa 94
 
Islam in Western Africa to the Eighteenth Century 94
 
The Wandering Fulani 96
 
Prophets and Warriors 97
 
7 The Eastern Crescent: The Islamic Frontier in Eastern Africa 103
 
Swahili Islam: Coastal Frontiers in the Nineteenth Century 103
 
Islam in the Central East African Interior 105
 
Cross and Crescent in Northeast Africa 106
 
Islam on the Nile 108
 
Part III Africa and Europe: Commerce, Conflict and Co-option, to c.1920 113
 
8 The Compass and the Cross 119
 
Interested Gentlemen and Learned Bodies: Explorers and Exploration 119
 
Creeping Hegemony and the Invention of Africa 123
 
European Missionary Activity in Africa to around 1800 125
 
Evangelical Humanitarians: Missionary Revival 126
 
The Christian Impact on Culture, State, and Society 129
 
Mission and Empire 134
 
9 "Whatever Happens ...": Towards the Scramble 139
 
Africa and Theories of Imperialism 140
 
Race and Culture 142
 
Disorder and Civilizing Violence: Political and Economic Justifications 145
 
10 Africans Adapting: Conquest and Partition 150
 
Explaining the "Conquest" 150
 
Spears and Water: Violent Resistance 155
 
Histories Old and New: Colonialism and Historical "Knowledge" 165
 
Realities Old and New: Colonialism and Political "Knowledge" 168
 
Bush Wars and Distant Shadows: Africa in Global War 175
 
Part IV Colonialisms 183
 
11 "Pax Colonia"? Empires of Soil and Service 189
 
Monopolies on Violence 190
 
Slaves and Labor 193
 
Cash Crops 194
 
White Settlement 199
 
Industry 201
 
Social Change and Emergent Crisis 204
 
Hearts and Minds 207
 
Environment and Medicine 210
 
12 Hard Times: Protest, Identity,

About the author

Richard Reid is Professor of African History, Faculty of History, University of Oxford, and a Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford, UK. His work has focused on the history of political culture, historical consciousness, warfare and militarism in Africa. He is the author of several books, including A History of Modern Uganda and Warfare in African History, and is former editor of the Journal of African History.

Summary

The new, fully-updated edition of the acclaimed textbook covering 200 years of African history

A History of Modern Africa explores two centuries of the continent's political, economic, and social history. This thorough yet accessible text help readers to understand key concepts, recognize significant themes, and identify the processes that shaped the modern history of Africa. Emphasis is placed on the consequences of colonial rule, and the links between the precolonial and postcolonial eras. Author Richard Reid, a prominent scholar and historian on the subject, argues that Africa's struggle for economic and political stability in the nineteenth century escalated and intensified through the twentieth century, the effects of which are still felt in the present day.

The new third edition offers substantial updates and revisions that consider recent events and historiography. Greater emphasis is placed on African agency, particularly during the colonial period, and the importance of the long-term militarization of African political culture. Discussions of the postcolonial period have been updated to reflect recent developments, including those in North Africa. Adopting a long-term approach to current African issues, this text:
* Explores the legacies of the nineteenth century and the colonial period in the context of the contemporary era
* Highlights the role of nineteenth century and long-term internal dynamics in Africa's modern challenges
* Combines recent scholarship with concise and effective narrative
* Features maps, illustrations, expanded references, and comprehensive endnotes

A History of Modern Africa: 1800 to the Present, 3rd Edition is an excellent introduction to the subject for undergraduate students in relevant courses, and for general readers with interest in modern African history and current affairs.

Product details

• Authors: R Reid, Richard J Reid, Richard J. Reid, Richard J. (Soas Reid, Richard J. (University of Oxford Reid, Reid Richard J., St Cross C
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.10.2019
• EAN: 9781119381921
• ISBN: 978-1-119-38192-1
• No. of pages: 448
• Series: Blackwell Concise History of the Modern World; Blackwell Concise History of the Modern World; Wiley Blackwell Concise History of the Modern World; Wiley Blackwell Concise Histor
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Geschichte, History, Allg. Geschichte, African History, Geschichte der Neuzeit (1780-1900), Modern History (1780-1900), Afrika /Geologie, Geschichte / Afrika