Africa : a biography of the continent a biography of the continent - Reader, John. (New York : Vintage Books, 1999)
Founding factors: Building a continent -- Transitions -- Missing links -- Origins and climate -- Humanity emerging: Real world -- Footsteps -- Cutting edge -- In the mind's eye -- Cool systems -- Out of Africa -- African options: On home ground -- Word of mouth -- Ancestral economies -- Human potential -- Climate and culture -- Beginnings of agriculture -- Renewable resources -- Pastoral scene -- Impact of iron -- African civilizations: Nile -- Periplus of the Erythraean Sea -- Aksum -- Cities without citadels -- Disease and affliction -- Successful harvests -- Implications of trade -- Outposts and inroads -- Merrie Africa -- Bananas and cattle -- Cattle and gold -- Foreign influences: "I speak of Africa and golden joys" -- Portuguese initiatives -- In search of Prester John -- Harnessed to Europe -- Nothing else to sell -- The Atlantic slave trade -- African slave traders -- Africa transformed -- Aftermath -- Climatic context -- Settlers: Settlers -- Black and white frontiers -- Zulu myths and reality -- Afrikaners -- Diamonds and gold -- Scramble: Imperial ambition -- African king -- Drawing the line -- Resistance -- Rebellion -- Invention of Africa -- First dance of freedom: Emergent elite -- Spoils of war -- First dance of freedom -- Dreams and nightmares.
"Originally published in hardcover in Great Britain by Hamish Hamilton Ltd, London, in 1997, and subsequently in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, in 1998"--T.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 745-783) and index.
Keywords: History; Africa -- History; Afrique -- Histoire