This book provides a succinct synthesis of South African history from the introduction of agriculture about 1500 years ago up to and including the government of Nelson Mandela. Stressing economic, social, cultural and environmental matters as well as political history, it shows how South Africa has become a single country. On the one hand it lays emphasis on the country's African heritage, and shows how this continues to influence social structures, ways of thought and ideas of governance. On the other, it chronicles the processes of colonial conquest and of economic development and unification stemming from the industrial revolution which began at the end of the nineteenth century. This leads on to a description and analysis of the fundamental political changes which South Africa is currently undergoing, while providing a background for the understanding of those many things which have not changed.
Table of contents:
1. Introduction; 2. The settlement of the land; 3. Colonial conquest; 4. Unification; 5. Consolidation; 6. Apartheid; 7. The costs of apartheid; 8. 'Let Freedom Reign': the end of apartheid and the transition to democracy, 1980-1994; 9. Epilogue: the acid rain of freedom; Suggestions for further reading.
This book gives a succinct overview of the last 1500 years of South African history, up to and including the Mandela government. It covers pre-colonial African societies, the colonial conquest and the economic and political transformations leading up to the radical changes of the last decade.
Describes 1500 years of South African history, from pre-colonial times to Nelson Mandela's Presidency.
Table of contents:
1. Introduction; 2. The settlement of the land; 3. Colonial conquest; 4. Unification; 5. Consolidation; 6. Apartheid; 7. The costs of apartheid; 8. 'Let Freedom Reign': the end of apartheid and the transition to democracy, 1980-1994; 9. Epilogue: the acid rain of freedom; Suggestions for further reading.
This book gives a succinct overview of the last 1500 years of South African history, up to and including the Mandela government. It covers pre-colonial African societies, the colonial conquest and the economic and political transformations leading up to the radical changes of the last decade.
Describes 1500 years of South African history, from pre-colonial times to Nelson Mandela's Presidency.