Extremely Valuable, 03 Jan 1999
This book although by by a writer from the left is a well researched well-written survey of slavery. Without emotion it explains how slavery, something which had practically ceased to exist following the collapse of the Roman World was re-created to provide labour in colonies of the new world.

It describes the setting up of the trade occurred and how it operated in practice. The brutality, the mechanics of how slaves were obtained how they were sold, what they did as slaves.

The absence of passion makes the book an even more powerful indictment of the institution of slavery. It describes how in most of the colonies slaves were over time worked to death. In Brazil, the usual life expectancy was seven years.

The book is challenging as it raises questions about the origin of our societies and seriously challenges the notions that European Society was either civilized or Christian.

Extremely Valuable, 03 Jan 1999
This book although by by a writer from the left is a well researched well-written survey of slavery. Without emotion it explains how slavery, something which had practically ceased to exist following the collapse of the Roman World was re-created to provide labour in colonies of the new world.

It describes the setting up of the trade occurred and how it operated in practice. The brutality, the mechanics of how slaves were obtained how they were sold, what they did as slaves.

The absence of passion makes the book an even more powerful indictment of the institution of slavery. It describes how in most of the colonies slaves were over time worked to death. In Brazil, the usual life expectancy was seven years.

The book is challenging as it raises questions about the origin of our societies and seriously challenges the notions that European Society was either civilized or Christian.

Moroccan Sufism, saints, "marabouts," etc.!, 09 May 1999
Anything you would ever want to know about the soial and ideological foundations of Moroccan Sufism and how it fits into the wider Islamic context. From a demographical breakdown of saints to the follies of Abu Yiza, this book has it all and more. Certainly not for the faint of heart, though; Cornell tackles so much that a quick reading just couldn't do the book justice.

Extremely Valuable, 03 Jan 1999
This book although by by a writer from the left is a well researched well-written survey of slavery. Without emotion it explains how slavery, something which had practically ceased to exist following the collapse of the Roman World was re-created to provide labour in colonies of the new world.

It describes the setting up of the trade occurred and how it operated in practice. The brutality, the mechanics of how slaves were obtained how they were sold, what they did as slaves.

The absence of passion makes the book an even more powerful indictment of the institution of slavery. It describes how in most of the colonies slaves were over time worked to death. In Brazil, the usual life expectancy was seven years.

The book is challenging as it raises questions about the origin of our societies and seriously challenges the notions that European Society was either civilized or Christian.

Moroccan Sufism, saints, "marabouts," etc.!, 09 May 1999
Anything you would ever want to know about the soial and ideological foundations of Moroccan Sufism and how it fits into the wider Islamic context. From a demographical breakdown of saints to the follies of Abu Yiza, this book has it all and more. Certainly not for the faint of heart, though; Cornell tackles so much that a quick reading just couldn't do the book justice.

unique insight into West Africa between the 8th and the 15th centuries, 06 Jun 2008
West African history, prior to contact with Europeans, is bedevilled by the lack of written sources. Thus, the accounts of muslims travellers visiting the region for diverse reasons between the 8th and the 15th centuries provides a rare source of documented history on the region. In this book, selected pieces of 20 such accounts is brought together. These comprise the primary sources of what we know today about the region within that time frame. Many of the accounts are second-hand i.e the writer wrote down what he was told by the person(s) who had actually been to the region or experienced the event. However, some are eye-witness accounts, notably that of the famed traveller, Ibn Battuta, who travelled extensively in the region (to learn more about Ibn Battuta's travels in Africa, you can read "Ibn Battuta in Black Africa").

This book provides a rare insight into the history, genealogy, geography, culture and politics of several West African kingdoms as seen/remembered by eye witnesses. The accounts touch on Ghana, Mali and Kanem Bornu with most attention paid to Mali. From these accounts we learn facts like the extensiveness of the commercial relations between West Africa and North Africa, practices in the courts of West African monarchs and the quality of life in these kingdoms. Interesting stories are told- for instance of the pilgrimmage of a Malian king to Mecca and the voyage of another across the Atlantic ocean. While many details are repeated across accounts and, often, the chroniclers are more interested in the religious details, this book is still an excellent introduction into West African history, prior to European contact.