The Prehistoric Cultures Of The Horn Of Africa

This 1954 text analyses the relationship between physical geography and stone age culture within the Horn of Africa.

Professor Fage and Professor Oliver, the editors of this collection, are distinguished historians of Africa, and as founding editors of the Journal of African History they both established the journal and used it to mark out developing areas of the subject. In directing the journal they have pursued an active policy of commissioning articles in fields where the literature was scanty, and in this volume they have collected together some of the most important articles they have published on African prehistory. It is designed for the student of African history, and the library that needs copies of frequently consulted papers to supplement its sets of periodicals. All the articles contain either accounts of important research or more general review articles. The book is illustrated with line diagrams and photographs. One article which originally appeared in French has been translated into English.

"This volume covers the period from the end of the Neolithic era to the beginning of the seventh century of our era. This lengthy period includes the civilization of Ancient Egypt, the history of Nubia, Ethiopia, North Africa and the Sahara, as well as of the other regions of the continent and its islands."--Publisher's description

Studies on Islam in Ethiopia have long been neglected although Islam is the religious confession of almost half of the Ethiopian population. The essays focus on the following topics: Islamic Principalities in Southeast Ethiopia between the 13th and 16th Century * Notes on the Islamization and the Muslim Shrines of the Harar Plateau * The Sanctuary of Shaikh Husayn and the Oromo-Somali Connections in Bale * The Islamization of the Arsi-Oromo; Medieval Muslim Survivals as a Stimulating Factor in the Re-Islamization of Southeastern Ethiopia. The essays are based on the study of written records and on field research in southern parts of the country carried out during the first half of the 1970s.

This book analyzes the development of indigenous religious, commercial, and political institutions among the Oromo mainly during the relatively peaceful two centuries in its history, from 1704 to 1882. The largest ethnic group in East Africa, the Oromo promoted peace, cultural assimilation, and ethnic integration.

Summarizes recent anthropological discoveries in East Africa and assesses their significance.