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Chapter 2 Africa in the Mediterranean World

  • Oyeniyi Bukola Adeyemi
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Africa in Global History
This chapter is in the book Africa in Global History

Abstract

Using insights gained from analyzing extensive archeological evidence of pre-Islamic rock art images, numerous inscriptions from early eleventh to late-thirteenth century tombstones and Libyco-Berber scripts, this chapter describes the historical processes and interrelationships, structures and events, that placed Africa within the larger context of the Mediterranean world. From the earliest writings of Graeco-Roman and Christian authors and trade records and travel reports kept by Arab Muslims and European traders, travelers, and explorers, the chapter challenges the popular view of Africa south of the Mediterranean Sea as an isolated and static area and reveals the historical contours and interconnections, sub-regional and regional systems, diplomatic and cultural exchanges within Africa and between Africans and the Arab, Europeans and Asians worlds which proved that Mediterranean Africa was more than just a patch of barren land intersecting the Mediterranean littoral and Sahara Desert, but a crossroad of trade and diplomacy, religion and knowledge.

Abstract

Using insights gained from analyzing extensive archeological evidence of pre-Islamic rock art images, numerous inscriptions from early eleventh to late-thirteenth century tombstones and Libyco-Berber scripts, this chapter describes the historical processes and interrelationships, structures and events, that placed Africa within the larger context of the Mediterranean world. From the earliest writings of Graeco-Roman and Christian authors and trade records and travel reports kept by Arab Muslims and European traders, travelers, and explorers, the chapter challenges the popular view of Africa south of the Mediterranean Sea as an isolated and static area and reveals the historical contours and interconnections, sub-regional and regional systems, diplomatic and cultural exchanges within Africa and between Africans and the Arab, Europeans and Asians worlds which proved that Mediterranean Africa was more than just a patch of barren land intersecting the Mediterranean littoral and Sahara Desert, but a crossroad of trade and diplomacy, religion and knowledge.

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