Africa鈥檚 long nineteenth century was a time of revolutionary ferment and cultural innovation for the continent鈥檚 states, societies, and economies. Yet the period preceding what became known as 鈥渢he Scramble for Africa鈥� by European powers in the decades leading up to World War I has long been neglected in favor of a Western narrative of colonial rule. The African Revolution demonstrates that 鈥渢he Scramble鈥� and the resulting imperial order were as much the culmination of African revolutionary dynamics as they were of European expansionism.
In this monumental work of history, Richard Reid paints a multifaceted portrait of a continent on the global stage. He describes how Africa witnessed the emergence of new economic and political dynamics that were underpinned by forms of violence and volatility not unlike those emanating from Europe. Reid uses a stretch of road in what is now Tanzania鈥攐ne of the nineteenth century鈥檚 most vibrant commercial highways鈥攁s an entry point into this revolutionary epoch, weaving a broader story around characters and events on the road. He integrates the African experience with new insights into the deeper currents in European societies before and after conquest, and he shows how the Africans themselves created opportunities for European expansion.
Challenging the portrayal of Africa鈥檚 transformative nineteenth century as a mere prelude to European colonialism, The African Revolution reveals how this turbulent yet hugely creative era for Africans intersected with global intrusions to shape the modern age.
Richard Reid is professor of African history at the University of Oxford and a fellow of St Cross College. His many books include Shallow Graves: A Memoir of the Ethiopia-Eritrea War; A History of Modern Uganda; and Warfare in African History.
"An interactive history. . . . [and] a fresh perspective."鈥�Library Journal
"A well researched book about a much neglected period of African history. . . . An important contribution for allowing the history of Africa to stand in its own right rather than in relation to Europeans."鈥擱oger McKenzie, Morning Star
"This is a big book from a skillful writer: clever, full of ideas and insights and stimulating, as well as provocative."鈥擩ustin Willis, The Irish Times
"Richard Reid provides a wealth of scholarly evidence about an era often neglected in favour of a European narrative of colonial expansion."鈥擬artin Meredith, Times Literary Supplement
“Richard Reid weaves a rich tapestry that entwines local and global African histories, displacing the “the Scramble” as the defining moment of the continent’s long nineteenth century. Reid’s argument is anchored in his formidable and textured knowledge of East African history, but at the same time, he never loses sight of how this region’s revolutionary and often violent histories paralleled those occurring elsewhere on the continent and around the world. Reid’s intricate, lively book challenges readers to situate “the Scramble” within the sweep of global history, rather than as the main determinant of Africa’s twentieth century.”—Michelle Moyd, Michigan State University
“With masterly erudition, Reid argues that the creativity of African political and economic entrepreneurship before and during partition did much to shape the future, colonial and postcolonial. This highly original and partly provocative analysis, lucidly written, powerfully challenges the received notion of the European partition of Africa as a watershed in African history.”—Gareth Austin, University of Cambridge
“This is a hugely impressive achievement, a book that highlights the vitality of African societies through the continent’s long nineteenth century. Its success derives from the blend of large-scale analytical insight and intimate biographical detail, and Reid’s insistence on the enduring power of African reformism.”—Shane Doyle, University of Leeds
