The fortunes of Africa: a 5000-year history of wealth, greed, and endeavour

Abstract

Africa has been coveted for its riches ever since the era of the Pharaohs. In past centuries, it was the lure of gold, ivory, slaves that drew fortune-seekers, merchant-adventurers, conquerors from afar. In modern times, the focus of attention is on oil, diamonds, 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 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 fall of ancient kingdoms empires; the spread of Christianity Islam; the enduring quest for gold other riches; the exploits of explorers missionaries; the impact of European colonization. He examines, too, the fate of modern African states concludes with a glimpse of their future. His cast of characters includes religious leaders, mining magnates, warlords, dictators, 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. I speak of Africa, Shakespeare wrote, and of golden joys. This is history on an epic scale.