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The Fortunes of Africa
The Fortunes of Africa: A 5000-Year History of Wealth, Greed, and Endeavor | Martin Meredith
2 posts | 2 read | 2 to read
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 figuresamong 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.
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review
Hooked_on_books
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Bailedbailed

I was hoping to use this for #ReadingAfrica2022, but, despite the title, it‘s really not about Africa at all. Rather it‘s about how Europe plundered Africa and used its resources and people for its own purposes. Only it doesn‘t seem to acknowledge to any significant degree that this was a bad thing. So, I‘m out.

BarbaraBB Good to have bailed! 2y
shanaqui Oh YIKES. 2y
43 likes2 comments
review
DrBird
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Pickpick

This book is phenomenal. A good investment of time if you have limited knowledge of Africa. Great breakdown of the regions showing connections and disconnections. Shows effects of slave and ivory trades, effects of Arab and European greed, the culpability of African rules in evil trade systems

MrBook My kind of tome! 😎👍🏻👌🏻 8y
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