About this item
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.
About the Author
Martin Meredith is a historian, journalist and biographer, and author of many acclaimed books on Africa. Meredith first worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa for the and , then as a research fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford. Residing near Oxford, he is now an independent commentator and author. Meredith's writing has been described as authoritative and well-documented, despite the pessimism inherent in his subject matter. He is the author of - which sold over 15 000 copies in South Africa, and and , among many others. His most recent book is , published by Jonathan Ball Publishers.
