Africa: African History from Ancient Egypt to Modern South Africa

Stories, People, and Events That Shaped the History of Africa

By: Raymond C. Nelson

Narrated by: Sam Bubis

Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

What wove the African continent into the rich fabric of cultures and peoples that it is today?

Where did ancient culture, trade, and civilization begin?

How did the African people survive and thrive despite European colonization and apartheid?

These are just some of the questions you’ll find answers to in Africa: African History from Ancient Egypt to Modern South Africa.

Africa is a vast continent whose waters, fertile lands, minerals, and diverse wildlife nurtured humankind since ancient times until European colonization and exploitation caused immeasurable suffering and loss. To understand how Africa developed, thrived, suffered, and emerged into the rich tapestry of peoples that it is today, take a trip back to the ancient River Nile and the East African coast.

Witness:

• The development of small settlements into three distinct cultures
• The Carthaginian Empire grow and flourish as an economic and commercial power
• The settlement of the Zimbabwe plateau and the construction of enormous stone cities
• The emergence of the Kingdom of Kongo and its expansion through peaceful trade and alliances
• The upheaval, atrocities, wars, and eventual stability created by European colonization
• The founding of the Congo Free State and the growth of forced labor to extract valuable resources from the land
• The decolonization of Africa and the return of territorial sovereignty and independence
• The forced racial segregation under apartheid and the birth of a new constitution that ended it
• The founding of the African Union to establish norms across the continent

Start your study of the struggles and triumphs of the African people today with Africa: African History from Ancient Egypt to Modern South Africa.

©2017 Lean Stone Publishing (P)2017 Lean Stone Publishing

Nice overview of African History

This is a useful intro into African history. It tries -in just 2 hours- to go from Ancient Egypt through to the modern era. Interesting facts giving a reasonable overview leaving you ready to figure out where you later want to go into detail through other books (or Wikipedia 😉). The narrator is not particularly inspiring... feels like he's reading rather than really trying to add life to it though I was surprised at what I assume was a reasonable attempt at some of the native pronunciation (forgive my ignorance).

useful introduction

This book is a useful introduction to the richness of the history of Africa. A lovely birds eye view to the novice.

This Book Left Me Wanting To Know More!

Interesting insight into African history. By the end of this book I found myself wanting to delve more deeply into the story of Africa. A good introduction to learn more about the continent where human life began.

Satisfied..

The book is a good overall history lesson... it's not overwhelming. I'm satisfied with the listen.

Subjective

The writer didn't take time to research and appreciate African history but simply got details from the internet. It's very subjective especially on recognition of African structures before colonization. He also mentions decolonisation which was not the case as each country demanded and fraught for their independence. The colonialists did not just withdraw.

Terrible

“What did the European colonizers ‘achieve’ in Africa?” ACHIEVE? Please. This book is bias and I hope that it is not being used as an educational resource. I am not happy with the information written in this book AT ALL.

Lousy story teller

This is a really good book, but a very poor story teller. It should be retold by a professional.

It's a shame

It's a shame that a continent so old has so little interest that the only ancient history is in spots.
The Portuguese Inquisition, the ousting of Spanish Jews to west Africa, the Lemba, the Catholic Church's interest in Africa, the selling of slaves other than wars and prisoners, the great empires, how they rose and where they are now.
The old names of the countries that were changed all over Africa after the 19th century, not just some.
There are more questions than answers.
Truly a book that could be written from Wikipedia and not from the libraries of ancient records like the Vatican and Oxford.
Such a pity