Warfare and Diplomacy in Pre-Colonial West Africa

by Robert Sydney Smith

This new edition of the well-known innovative study of the relations of the peoples of West Africa in the precolonial period covers a period of some four or five hundred years, up to the last decades of the nineteenth century.  Smith takes account of outside influences but focuses primarily on what happened between African states before the partition of the area and the establishment of colonies.

Genres: History

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[AskHistorians]

Focuses on Savannah and Forest societies, approximately from the 14th to 19th century. Exploring both the methods and tactics of warfare, but also the norms for diplomacy.