This history of modern Africa takes as its starting-point the year l800, because, although by that time the greater part of the interior of Africa had become known to the outside world, most of the initiatives for political and economic change still remained in the hands African rulers and their peoples. The book falls into three parts. The first describes the precolonial history of Africa, while the middle section deals thematically with partition and colonial rule. The third part deals with the emergence of the modern nation states of Africa and their history. Throughout the l90 years covered by the book, the authors are as concerned with the continuity of African history as with the changes which have taken place during this period. The new edition covers events up to the end of l99l and discusses the fresh perspectives brought about by the end of the Cold War.