In 1990 Namibia gained its independence after a decades-long struggle against South African rule
- &, before that, against German colonialism. This book, the first new scholarly general history of Namibia in two decades, provides a fresh synthesis of these events, & of the much longer pre-colonial period. A History of Namibia opens with a chapter by John Kinahan covering the evidence of human activity in Namibia from the earliest times to the nineteenth century, & for the first time making a synthesis of current archaeological research widely available to non-specialists. In subsequent chapters, Marion Wallace weaves together the most up-to-date academic research (in English & German) on Namibian history, from the mid-eighteenth century to the present. She explores histories of migration, production & power in the pre-colonial period, the changes triggered by European expansion, & the dynamics of the period of formal colonialism. The coverage of German rule
Includes:: a full chapter on the genocide of 1904-8. Here, Wallace outlines the history & historiography of the wars fought in central & southern Namibia, & the subsequent mass imprisonment of defeated Africans in concentration camps. The final two chapters analyse the period of African nationalism, apartheid & war between 1946 & 1990. The book`s conclusion looks briefly at the development of Namibia in the two decades since independence. A History of Namibia provides an invaluable introduction & reference source to the past of a country that is often neglected, despite its significance in the history of the region &, indeed, for that of European colonialism & international relations. It makes accessible the latest research on the country, illuminates current controversies, puts forward new insights, & suggests future directions for research. The book`s extensive bibliography adds to its usefulness for scholar & general reader alike.