Description
Book Synopsis: Shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, Cundill History Prize, Fage and Oliver Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Pius Adesanmi Memorial AwardWinner of the Historical Writers' Association Non-Fiction Crown 2020Winner of the American Historical Association's Jerry Bentley Prize in World History 2020Winner of the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding 2019An Observer and Wall Street Journal Book of the Year 2019
A groundbreaking history that will transform our view of West AfricaBy the time of the 'Scramble for Africa' in the late nineteenth century, Africa had already been globally connected for many centuries. Its gold had fuelled the economies of Europe and Islamic world since around 1000, and its sophisticated kingdoms had traded with Europeans along the coasts from Senegal down to Angola since the fifteenth century. Until at least 1650, this was a trade of equals, using a variety of currencies - most importantly the cowrie shells imported from the Maldives, and the nzimbu shells imported from Brazil.
Toby Green's groundbreaking new book transforms our view of West and West-Central Africa. It reconstructs the world of kingdoms whose existence (like those of Europe) revolved around warfare, taxation, trade, diplomacy, complex religious beliefs, royal display and extravagance, and the production of art.
Over time, the relationship between Africa and Europe revolved ever more around the trade in slaves, damaging Africa's relative political and economic power as the terms of monetary exchange shifted drastically in Europe's favour. In spite of these growing capital imbalances, longstanding contacts ensured remarkable connections between the Age of Revolution in Europe and America and the birth of a revolutionary nineteenth century in Africa.
A Fistful of Shells draws not just on written histories, but on archival research in nine countries, on art, praise-singers, oral history, archaeology, letters, and the author's personal experience to create a new perspective on the history of one of the world's most important regions.
'Astonishing, staggering' Ben Okri, Daily Telegraph Read more
Details
Looking for a groundbreaking history book that will transform your view of West Africa? Look no further than "A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution". Shortlisted for prestigious awards such as the Wolfson History Prize and the Cundill History Prize, this book is the ultimate resource for understanding the rich and complex history of West Africa.
Author Toby Green takes readers on a captivating journey back in time, revealing how Africa had already been globally connected for centuries before the "Scramble for Africa". Its wealth, including gold that fueled the economies of Europe and the Islamic world, had been traded for centuries. The kingdoms of West Africa engaged in sophisticated trade with Europeans, creating a network that spanned from Senegal to Angola.
But what sets this book apart is its focus on the deep cultural and economic connections between Africa and Europe before the devastating era of the slave trade. Green sheds light on the trade of currencies, particularly the cowrie shells from the Maldives and nzimbu shells from Brazil, which played a crucial role in commercial transactions. This trade was a true exchange of equals, with Africa's political and economic power comparable to that of Europe.
However, as time went on, the relationship between Africa and Europe became increasingly centered around the slave trade. This trade shifted the terms of monetary exchange drastically in Europe's favor, deeply impacting Africa's political and economic power. Despite these imbalances, the book highlights the remarkable connections between the Age of Revolution in Europe and America and the birth of a revolutionary nineteenth century in Africa.
A Fistful of Shells combines a diverse range of sources, including archival research, oral history, archaeology, and personal experiences of the author. The result is a comprehensive and engrossing account that takes readers on an astonishing journey through the history of West Africa.
Don't miss out on this extraordinary book that has been praised by critics and readers alike. Get your hands on "A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution" today and gain a whole new perspective on one of the world's most important regions.
Click here to order your copy now!
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