Traces the precolonial development of African towns, cities and architecture, south of the Sahara. The author uses early drawings and photographs to show the variety and dynamism of urban civilisations in ancient cities such as Great Zimbabwe, Benin, Timbuktu, Sofala and Kano. Illustrated with b/w images. Index, bib, 138pp, USA. NORTON, 039309166X

A study of urbanisation in Africa discussing the importance of urban centres over two thousand years. Topics include the clustered cities of Niger, Aksum, Mbanza Kongo, Ouidah, Buganda's urban environment, Arusha, Lagos, Durban, Gold Coast towns in the eighteenth century, women and migration in Tunis, early colonial Accra, urban planning in Zanzibar, Cape Town's District Six and Brazzaville. Index, notes, maps, b/w illus, x, 310pp, UK. JAMES CURREY PUBLISHERS.

'...explores the cultural, economic, social and intellectual encounters of sub-Saharan Africans with Europeans from 1450-1850..' Drawing on the recorded statements of Africans who travelled to Europe or who encountered European in Africa as well as other evidence, the books shows Africans to have been eager and active participants in the making of the Atlantic world. The book is designed to be used as a supplemented text in a range of undergraduate courses on Africa and the African diaspora. It should have some appeal to general readers as well. 224 pages. 12 halftones and 2 maps. UK. OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 0195140842

New, revised edition. Examines two ancient African civilisations which wre the most high developed south of Egypt, but are often overlooked in modern texts. The book describes the Red Sea trade and the rise of Axum, the birth of the Axum empire, the conversion of Axum to Christianity, and the Axumite civilisation on the eve of the Middle Ages. B/w illus, notes, bib, index, 220pp, USA. MARKUS WIENER.

Covering history, literature, art history and anthropology, this study investigates a whole range of black African experience and representation across Renaissance Europe. Issues addressed include changing black African identity, and cultural representation in art and literature. BNS, 350pp, UK. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

A history of sub-Saharan Africa divided into six main currents. The author introduces each civilization by contemplating its characteristic art forms, visual arts and performances and uses these cultural expressions as a starting point to discuss economic systems, family and political institutions as well as religious beliefs. Index, bib, maps, b/w illus, xvi, 212pp, USA. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Using the later prehistory of Africa as a basis for comparison the contributors analyse modern climate change in the Sahel region. The work aims to bring archaeology within the domain of contemporary human affairs and to forge a new methodology for coping with environmental problems. Index, refs, tables, graphs, maps, xvii, 347pp, USA. KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS, 0306467550

'The text would certainly be the anchor text for an introductory class in African history, or for the segment on Africa in a world history class... The introduction to the text is exciting, progressive and engaging... The whole narrative is presented in an exceedingly readable way.' - Adria La Violette, University of Virginia. CONTENTS: Introducing Africa & its history - Africa before the agricultural age, 16,000-9000 BCE - Culture & technology in Africa, 9000-3500 BCE - Diverging paths of history: Africa 3500-1000 BCE - An age of commerce, an age of iron: Africa 1000 BCE-300 CE - Southern, central & eastern Africa: the middle centuries 300-1450 - North-eastern, west & north Africa: the middle centuries 300-1450 - The early Atlantic age, 1450-1640 - Africa in the era of the Atlantic slave trade 1640-1800. 496pp Illustrations: 84 Figures, 24 Maps, 2 Tables, UK . JAMES CURREY PUBLISHERS.

Seeks to familiarise the reader with pre-colonial Africa, from 500 BC up to the 19th century: with the culture, events, migration, and rulers of Africa. The introduction provides a broad background of African history, followed by a chronology of the rise and fall of the many dynasties that ruled the great kingdoms of Egypt and Nubia, among others. An extensive bibliography will be of use to scholars and students looking for further material to consult. Regional historical bibliographies follow. 688pp, USA. SCARECROW.

A comprehensive exploration of African history for undergraduate students, with the focus on changing modes of production, gender relations and on ecology. The first section gives a historiographical analysis to the end of the Iron Age, with the second and third sections organised on regional lines. Includes a guide to further reading. Index, notes, maps, x, 578pp, UK. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

New Edition. A history of Africa south of the Sahara during the fifteen hundred years before the colonial period began, aiming to contribute to an understanding of the origins and background of Africa today. Davidson looks at the civilisations of Kush, Mali, Ethiopia and Great Zimbabwe amongst others. First published in 1959. Index, bib, 366pp, UK. JAMES CURREY PUBLISHERS, 0852557973

An English translation of meaningful sections of important Arabic documents relating to West Africa prior to 1500 AD. An important resource for non-Arabic speaking scholars of West Africa and historians of the region. Each of the twenty two texts are preceded by a short introduction and bibliographic details. Index, xxxiii, 126pp, USA. MARKUS WIENER PUBLICATIONS INC, 1558763058

Examines the history and organization of trans-Saharan trade in western Africa using original source material. It documents the internal dynamics of a trade network system based on a case study of the Wad Nun traders, who specialized in outfitting camel caravans in the nineteenth century. Through an examination of contracts, correspondence, fatwas, and interviews with retired caravaners, Lydon shows how traders used their literacy skills in Arabic and how they had recourse to experts of Islamic law to regulate their long-distance transactions. 496pp, UK. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

An analysis of the history, archaeology and ethnology of copper in sub-Saharan Africa. BNS, 440pp, UK. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRESS, 0299096041

Were political forms of resistance directed at the imposition or ending of colonial rule or at African elites profiting from the onset of capitalist relations of production? Or did they have purely sociological or religious roots? With contributions from historians, anthropologists and political scientists, this volume offers an analysis of revolts in 19th century pre-colonial societies and early colonial Africa, post-colonial rebellions and more recent and contemporary conflicts. Notes, tables, b/w photos, maps, 368pp, THE NETHERLANDS. EJ BRILL, 9004126244

Traces the origins of the idea of Africa and its evolution in Renaissance European thought. It and explores how its image was progessively shaped, from myth to reality, through travel and exploration. 314pp, UK. ASHGATE.

Framed as a critique of colonial and neo-colonial African history, it aims to bury the study of Africa in a racial and territorial divide, and establish a scientific study of the Africa past by ridding African historical studies of existing dogma. Draws data from as many related disciplines as possible - linguistics and etymology, anthropology and rock art, new archaeological findings and re-readings of histori-cal documents - it outlines the contours of ancient cultural and trade links between the various peoples and polities of ancient Africa. 256pp, TANZANIA. E&D LTD.

This study of more than two thousand years of African social history weaves together evidence from historical linguistics, archaeology, comparative ethnography, oral tradition, and art history to challenge the assumptions that all African societies were patriarchal and that the status of women in precolonial Africa is beyond the scope of historical research. In East-Central Africa, women played key roles in technological and economic developments during the long precolonial period. Female political leaders were as common as male rulers, and women, especially mothers, were central to religious ceremonies and beliefs. 205pp, USA. UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER PRESS.