Books about Africa

For future reference, from an e-mail

the book series African Civilizations: Egyptian Dynasties and Nubian Dynasties

also include the beginning of two other books from the series since
in order to talk about ancient cities like Djenne-Djeno; Empire of Ghana and Empire of Mali. This is the most
complete series I have found for children about Africa.

African Beginnings by J. Haskins & K. Benson is a very brief
introduction to both ancient and middle ages African empires.

Splendors of the Past: Lost Cities of the Ancient World This book includes Sumeria, Jerusalem, Pompeii,
Kush, Ancient Khmer, Hittites, and Sinhalese Kings.


Middle ages Africa: include a lesson or two on the Copts of Egypt and Ethiopia. Egyptian Copts are considered the most likely descendents of the Ancient Egyptians.

For folktale studies I believe the rabbit tales are the oldest and
come from ancient times (Gerald McDermott's version is named Zomo but
various African cultures call him by various names). The Anansi and
tortoise trickster tales aren't quite as old but were firmly
established by the middle ages. We tend to use African folktales
retold by Verna Aardema even though her interpretations are more modern.


Ashanti peoples (under various tribal names) did exist in ancient times but the Ashanti Empire didn't reach its full power until much later. This empire made much of its wealth and reached the height of its power from the slave and gold trades of the 1600s. At our house we study the Yoruba and even the Ibo instead. Same part of Africa but they had a greater influence during ancient times than the Ashanti.

The Civilizations for Kids series lists an Ancient Africa video but it
looks like the featured empires are actually empires that reached
their power during the middle ages (ie. Great Zimbabwe).