This book begins by looking at the peoples of Africa at the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and goes on to study the commercial and ideological penetration of Africa by the outside world. The partition and colonisation of Africa by the European powers are discussed, and there is comprehensive discussion of the colonial rule between 1885 and 1960. The last third of the book is concerned with the history of independent Africa during the last years of the twentieth century. The new edition covers events up to the middle of 2003, and takes account of the fresh perspectives brought about by the end of the Cold War and the new global situation following the events of September 11, 2001. It is also concerned with the demographic trends, with the ravages of diseases such as AIDS and malaria, and with the conflicts waged by warlords.
1. Africa north of the equator; 2. Africa south of the equator; 3. The opening up of Africa I: from the north-east; 4. The opening up of Africa II: from the Maghrib; 5. West Africa before the colonial period 1800-75; 6. Western Central Africa; 7. Eastern Central Africa; 8. Southern Africa; 9. The partition of Africa on paper 1879-91; 10. The partition of Africa on the ground 1891-1901; 11. Colonial rule in Tropical Africa I: political and economic developments 1885-1914; 12. Colonial rule in Tropical Africa II: social and religious developments; 13. The inter-war period, 1918-38; 14. North and North-East Africa 1900-39; 15. South Africa 1902-39; 16. The last years of colonial rule; 17. The road to independence I: North and North-East Africa; 18. The road to independence II: Africa from the Sahara to the Zambezi; 19. The road to independence III: Central Africa; 20. The long road to democracy in Southern Africa; 21. The politics of independent Africa; 22. Economics and society in independent Africa; 23. Into the third millenium; Epilogue; Suggestions for further reading; Index.
