Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-336) and index.

Africanist history and the history of Africa -- Material and cultural development in Africa -- The European intrusion in the era of merchant capital -- The era of legitimate commerce, 1800-70 -- The conquest of Africa -- The material basis of colonial society, 1900-40 -- Culture, class and social change in colonial Africa, 1900-40 -- Industrialisation and South African society, 1900-48 -- The decolonisation of Africa, 1940-60 -- Tropical Africa, 1960-80 : class, state and the problem of development -- Southern Africa : the liberation struggles -- Structural adjustment kicks in -- Democracies, dictatorships and disasters : Africa into the twenty-first century -- A new Africa : cultural and social history since independence -- Conclusion.