Non-Fiction
3 Best Non-Fiction Books About ancient Africa
Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.
Period
Ancient Africa
c. 3100 BCE–700 CE
Ancient Africa includes the early states and civilisations that developed across the Nile Valley, North Africa, the Horn and the continent’s interior before the widespread expansion of medieval Islamic and Christian states. It encompasses long-distance trade, urban centres, royal authority and changing religious cultures.
Egypt, Nubia and Kush interacted closely while remaining distinct political traditions. Carthage connected North Africa to the Mediterranean; Aksum tied the Horn to Arabia and the Red Sea; and communities farther south and west developed agricultural, metallurgical and commercial networks of their own.
Books linked here should give readers a broad view of ancient African history. More specific child contexts, especially Ancient Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush, should be used when a book concentrates on a particular state or region.
