Designed as a textbook for the undergraduate and graduate levels.

There has long been a need for a new textbook on West Africa's history. This comprehensive collection brings together leading scholars on key themes from West Africa's prehistory to the present. It discusses various disciplinary approaches to West African history, provides overviews of the literature on major topics, and breaks new ground through the incorporation of original research.

Part one provides perspectives on West Africa's history from archaeology, ecology and culture, linguistics, and oral traditions. Part two provides longue duree perspectives on environment, society, agency and historical change. Part three examines how economic and political developments haveshaped religious expression and identity in significant ways. At the end of each chapter is a short list of recommended reading.

EMMANUEL KWAKU AKYEAMPONG is Professor of History at Harvard University

NorthAmerica: Ohio U Press; Ghana: Woeli Publishing Services