West Africa in History

The Epic Foundations of West Africa: From Ancient Empires to the Age of the Atlantic.
How did the great medieval empires of the Western Sudan transform into the coastal territories of the modern era? In this expansive first volume, W.F. Conton traces 5,000 years of history, bridging the gap between the "Golden Age" of African sovereignty and the turbulent arrival of European voyagers.
Originally published as a pioneering Afrocentric text, this work remains a vital survey of the region's development before the 19th century.
Inside Part One: The Era of Sovereignty

• Ancient Origins: Explore the "lost" links between the Yoruba and Ancient Egypt, and the classical accounts of Africa's circumnavigation.
• The Imperial Triad: Detailed histories of the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Empires, alongside the rise of the Asante, Oyo, and Benin.

Inside Part Two: The European Arrival (1400-1800)

• Century-by-Century Analysis: A rare, systematic look at the 15th through 18th centuries across four key regions: Senegambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and the Slave Coast.
• From Caravels to Castles: The evolution of European contact, from early Portuguese explorers and "sea-dogs" to the established "factories" and companies of the 1700s.
• The Transatlantic Impact: A sobering and detailed examination of the Slave Trade's development and its impact on West African societies before the colonial era began.

Updated with a new introduction by the author's son, Paul Conton, this volume is an essential resource for students, historians, and anyone seeking to understand the roots of the African Diaspora.
Discover the history that shaped a continent. Scroll up and add Volume 1 to your library today.