Nardo, Dan. European Colonization of Africa

Nardo, Dan European Colonization of Africa
Morgan Reynolds 2010 112p 28.95
978-1-59935-142-1 ms/hs Africa - Colonization E-BN

Concisely presents the history of Africa focusing on the European colonization of Africa with emphasis on the slave trade and early European explorers. Very readable. Colorful illustrations, chapter notes, time line, index and further reading. Grades 6-12. Nardo covers the early history of Africa from BC times and Muslim influence through the nationalism in the mid 1900s. The focus is on Europeans who traveled to Africa to plunder the natural resources and enslave the native populations. The first half of the book talks extensively about the slave trade that had been in existence during the early Muslim occupancy and expanded as Europeans needed slaves to work in the Caribbean. Early explorers and those Europeans who settled in Africa are shown as masters of the indigenous populations. As more Europeans arrived, clashes broke out between the Dutch, Portuguese and central European factions. By the 1950’s nationalism had taken hold and ousted European governments in favor of local rule. Colorful illustrations, chapter notes, time line, index and further reading provide quick study links for students. Text boxes highlight important events and people with primary source quotations flowing smoothly into the narrative text. The only addition that would have proved helpful would have been a legible map of Africa with locations mentioned in the text. Strongly recommended for grades 6-12 as a first source of political information on the history of Africa as a continent. McNicol,Lois