African Empires

Africa is the continent where the first humans were born. They explored the vast land and produced the first tools. And although we migrated from that continent, we never completely abandoned it. From the beginning of time, humans lived and worked in Africa, leaving evidence of their existence in the sands of the Sahara Desert and the valleys of the great rivers such as the Nile and the Niger.

A narrative history of how Attila, Genghis Khan and the so-called barbarians of the steppes shaped world civilization. The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These nomadic tribes have produced...

Did Britain modernize Africa — or exploit it? Did colonialism build nations, or create the foundations of modern instability? Why do the borders, languages, religions, educational systems and economies of modern Africa still carry the fingerprints of empire? In Britain’s Colonial Report Card, Frederick Amakom delivers a bold, balanced and deeply thought-provoking examination of the British colonial legacy in Africa. This book goes beyond emotional slogans and simplistic narratives to investigate one of the most important historical relationships in the modern world. Through political, ...

What if one of the world’s oldest civilizations has been misunderstood all along? Ethiopia is often described as ancient, sacred, and exceptional—but beneath these labels lies a far more complex story. In this powerful and thought-provoking book, Frederick Amakom takes readers on a journey through time—from the earliest settlements of the Ethiopian highlands to the rise of the Aksumite Empire, from the mystery of the Queen of Sheba to the global impact of the Battle of Adwa. This is not just history. This is an unmasking. Inside, you will discover: The true meaning behind the name “...

Pick up almost any book on early and medieval world history and empire, and where do you find West Africa? On the periphery. This pioneering book tells a different story. Interweaving political and social history and drawing on a rich array of sources, Michael Gomez unveils a new vision of how categories of ethnicity, race, gender, and caste emerged in Africa and in global history. 

From the bestselling author of Dictatorland, this is the long and turbulent history of China’s growing influence over African states. People are increasingly fascinated by – and terrified of – the role of China in the modern world. In Africa, this role has become something akin to a new...

The Nile did not begin in Egypt. It began in Nubia. Long before many of the world’s greatest empires rose, a powerful African civilization flourished along the Nile—rich in gold, culture, and political power. This is the story history almost forgot. In The Nubians, Frederick Amakom takes you on a sweeping journey across thousands of years—uncovering one of Africa’s most influential yet overlooked civilizations. From the early kingdom of Kerma to the rise of Kush… From the rule of the Black Pharaohs over Egypt to the industrial power of Meroë… From Christian Nubia to the modern ...

In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications...

Immerse yourself in the intricate story of Africa and discover Africa's true place in world history. Spanning more than 200,000 years, from the emergence of the first humans to the rise of megacities, Africa explores the history and cultures of the world's second-largest continent in vivid...

Who were the Moors—and why does their story still matter today? For centuries, the Moors have been misunderstood, misrepresented, and often erased from mainstream history. Yet they were one of the most powerful and influential civilizations to ever shape Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean world. From their African roots in North Africa to their rise as rulers of Spain, the Moors built a civilization that transformed cities, preserved knowledge, and ignited intellectual progress that would later fuel the European Renaissance. But their story is more than conquest and empire—it is a ...

In the grand scheme of things, very little is known of Mansa Musa’s life. We know that he was one of the greatest emperors of the Mali Empire. And we know that he was actually one of the richest men of all time due to the enormous gold deposits in West Africa that were under his dominion, but large parts of Mansa Musa’s life remain a mystery.

Bloomsbury presents Dictatorland by Paul Kenyon, read by Hamilton McLeod. A Financial Times Book of the Year 'Jaw-dropping' Daily Express 'Grimly fascinating' Financial Times 'Humane, timely, accessible and well-researched' Irish Times The dictator who grew so rich on his country's cocoa crop...

The Ashanti people occupy a unique place in African and global history. The Ashantis of built one of the greatest and most powerful civilizations in African history. From the sacred Golden Stool to the legendary resistance of Yaa Asantewa, the Ashanti story is a sweeping epic of empire, warfare, spirituality, gold wealth, political genius, colonial resistance, and cultural survival. Emerging from the Akan-speaking communities of West Africa, the Ashanti built a centralized empire that became one of the most powerful states on the Gold Coast. Through military strength, political ...

An exciting, hugely revealing account of China’s burgeoning presence in Africa - a developing empire already shaping, and reshaping, the future of millions of people. A prizewinning foreign correspondent and former New York Times bureau chief in Shanghai and in West and Central Africa, Howard French is uniquely positioned to tell the story of China in Africa. Through meticulous on-the-ground reporting, French crafts a layered investigation of astonishing depth and breadth.

For generations, the world was taught that civilization emerged outside of Africa. Africa was portrayed as primitive, disconnected, and dependent on outsiders for progress. Entire generations grew up learning more about Europe, Greece, and Rome than about the powerful civilizations that existed across the African continent long before colonialism. But what if the story we were taught was incomplete? The Greatest Lie Ever Told About Black Civilization explores the buried history of ancient African empires, lost civilizations, pyramids beyond Egypt, advanced trade systems, monumental ...

Husband-and-wife treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo run afoul of a dictator who uses false facts about Aztec history to further his claim to power in this #1 New York Times-bestselling series. While scuba diving in Tanzania, Sam and Remi Fargo come upon a relic belonging to a long-lost...

As the old saying goes, a man never knows what he would do until he’s faced with adversity. Carmelo Davis AKA Big Mel was the owner of one of the hottest Record labels in the industry Black Money Empire. At the peak of his success an advisory from the past that came back with intentions of seeing his empire crumble. What was all good just a week ago turns into a total nightmare… ​Big Mel and his BME family found themselves in a fight until the death. As lives are lost and lines get crossed, witness the true definition of love and loyalty as they help each other survive by any means ...

A respected and controversial scholar argues that the Crusades were a justified war waged against Muslim terror and aggression This book takes on the current vogue in liberal thinking to argue that, in fact, the Crusades were not unprovoked. They were not the first round of European colonialism...

Have you ever wondered why the Mali Empire was so wealthy and well-known? Find your answer in our guide about the Mali Empire, and learn about its foundation and rise to fame under Mansa Musa. Within this audiobook, you’ll listen to the humble beginnings and hardships that befell Sundiata Keita as he founded the Mali Empire. His thrilling story leads into how the empire was structured and its early laws and customs.

As the world progressed through medieval times, great empires rose and fell across Europe and Africa. However, in the 15th century, trans-oceanic voyages were allowing imperialism to reach distant shores. This new form of control became rampant, and untamed capitalism put the slave trade at its core.