Documents from the African Past

by Robert O. Collins (Contributor)

This fascinating collection spans two millennia, beginning with a first-century merchant's guide to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean ports. Primary sources describe ancient and medieval trade routes, China's discovery of Africa, the slave trade, kingdoms and court life in inner East and West Africa, and the experiences of Asian and European settlers, merchants, and colonialists. There are writings by important local authorities and scholars as well as travelers and administrators from other continents. The ideas of leaders who shaped modern Africa are represented in the documents of Jomo Kenyatta, Haile Selassie, Steven Biko, and Nelson Mandela.

382 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

A specialist in the history of East Africa and Sudan, Robert O. Collins was Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he taught from 1965 to 1994.