The Archaeology of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Timothy Insoll

Overview

This comprehensive study of the impact of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa charts the historical background and archaeological evidence attesting to the spread of Islam across the Sudan, Ethiopia, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Nigeria. Surveying a timespan from the immediate pre-Islamic period through to the present, Timothy Insoll analyzes the processes (jihad, trade, missionary activity, prestige) by which Islam spread. This book is relevant to scholars, students and all readers interested in Africa, archaeology, religion and Islam.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521651714
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/03/2003
Series:	Cambridge World Archaeology
Pages:	488
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

Timothy Insoll is Lecturer in Archaeology at the School of Art History and Archaeology of the University of Manchester.

Table of Contents

1. The archaeology of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa: an introduction; 2. Aksum to Adal: Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa; 3. The Nilotic Sudan; 4. The Eastern African Coast and offshore islands; 5. The Western Sahel; 6. The Central Sudan; 7. The West African Sudan and Forest; 8. The African interior: Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa; 9. Conclusions.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Timothy Insoll has put together a remarkable study that will take its place alongside Nehemia Levtzion and Randall Pouwell's A History of Islam in Africa as a major work of reference on the foundations and development of Muslim societies in sub-Saharan Africa." H-Net Review

"A welcome addition to the literature on sub-Saharan archaeology." International Journal of African Historical Studies

"...we can applaud the research efforts of the author and his well-structured, accessible summary. Readers from archaeology and the historical humanities in particular will find much that is useful in the approach of this ambitious undertaking." - Journal of Field Archaeology, Adria LaViolette, University of Virginia

Editorial Reviews

"Timothy Insoll has put together a remarkable study that will take its place alongside Nehemia Levtzion and Randall Pouwell's A History of Islam in Africa as a major work of reference on the foundations and development of Muslim societies in sub-Saharan Africa." H-Net Review

"A welcome addition to the literature on sub-Saharan archaeology." International Journal of African Historical Studies

"...we can applaud the research efforts of the author and his well-structured, accessible summary. Readers from archaeology and the historical humanities in particular will find much that is useful in the approach of this ambitious undertaking." - Journal of Field Archaeology, Adria LaViolette, University of Virginia

From the Publisher