Synopses & Reviews
Legends of Africas wealthits gold, ivory, diamonds and slaveshave endured for millennia, drawing in pillaging explorers and conquerors to its shores from afar. In this magisterial prequel to
The Fate of Africa, Martin Meredith lavishly recounts the history of a continent whose richness in natural resources has made it a victim of ruthless plunderersboth foreign and domestic.
Merediths Africa radiates mystery from every cliff. The fertile soils now marked by the borders of the Sierra Leone promised diamonds to Western colonizers in the nineteenth century. So did the ivory, used in everything from piano keys to billiard balls and jewelry, which led to the emergence of powerful crime syndicates across the continent and the relentless poaching of the African elephant. The slave trade has likewise been active for hundreds of years, from the ninth century onwards, when slaves from black Africa would be marched across the Sahara desert, shipped over the Red Sea, and sold into market in the Levant, Mesopotamia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulfand finally to North and South America by Portuguese, British, French, Spanish, and Dutch traders.
The Fortunes of Africa is the definitive history of the African continent, beginning with the emergence of the first nation state on the banks of the Nile River and covering everything from the fall of the Thebes to the Scramble for Africa and the extraordinary and ruthless exploits of key personalities like Cecil Rhodes. Martin Meredith, once again, weaves together a fascinating tapestry of the cultures and histories that defined the African continent for over 5,000 yearsthe millennia preceding the tumultuous independence movements of the 20th century when African countries, one by one, finally started to break free from colonial rule.
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 economics
richly detailed
a useful study.”Kirkus Reviews
Review
and#147;Even the longtime specialist is likely to learn lots of things because of the extraordinary amount of ground the author covers.and#8221;and#151;
Howard French, The Wall Street Journaland#147;Mr Meredith artfully weaves together exploration, trade and geography in a narrative that is both detailed and arrestingand#133; [he] leaves the reader bursting with a wealth of factsand#8221;and#151;The Economist
and#147;This is the new standard against which future histories will be considered.and#8221;and#151;Publishers Weekly starred review
and#147;A gripping tale of insatiable greedand#151;personal and collective.and#8221;and#151;Booklist, starred review
and#147;[A] broad-ranging history of Africa from the age of the pharaohs to the present, with a solid emphasis on economicsand#133;richly detailedand#133;a useful study.and#8221;and#151;Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A sweeping history the fortune seekers, adventurers, despots, and thieves who have ruthlessly endeavored to extract gold, diamonds, and other treasures from Africa and its people.
Africa has been coveted for its rich natural resources ever since the era of the Pharaohs. In past centuries, it was the lure of gold, ivory, and slaves that drew merchant-adventurers and conquerors from afar. In modern times, the focus of attention is on oil, diamonds, and other rare earth minerals.
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 colonization. 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.
Synopsis
Africa has been coveted for its riches ever since the era of the Pharaohs. 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 northern Africa for vital grain shipments to feed the population of Rome. Arab invaders followed in their wake, eventually colonizing the entire region. More recently, 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 colonization. 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 figuresand#151;among them Mansa Musa, ruler of the medieval Mali empire, said to be the richest man the world has ever known. and#147;I speak of Africa,and#8221; Shakespeare wrote, and#147;and of golden joys.and#8221; This is history on an epic scale.
About the Author
Martin Meredith is a journalist, biographer, and historian who has written extensively on Africa and its recent history. His previous books include Mandela, Mugabe, Diamonds, Gold, and War, Born in Africa, and The Fate of Africa. He lives near Oxford, England.