A survey of South African history from the formation of early human communities to the present.

The Making of South Africa provides a detailed understanding of all the forces that have shaped South Africa to date. It represents a valuable and unique addition to the field by emphasizing African voices as well as recent developments in South Africa, including analyses on the post-transition political change, the World Cup of soccer, and pubic health issues.

The text incorporates important new perspectives on South African geography and the spatial dimensions of segregation and apartheid. It also covers environmental studies and the dynamic literature on identities and ethnicity while highlighting how Europeans and Africans shaped the environment, politics, and the economy to develop a complex multi-ethnic nation.

Learning Goals

Upon completing this book readers will be able to:

• Understand how South Africa became the nation it is today
• View South African history from the point of view of Africans as well as Europeans who have settled there
• Assess the impact of cultural, political, social, economic, geographical, environmental, and health-related forces on South African history