This book provides a succinct synthesis of Southern African history from the introduction of agriculture about 1 500 years ago up to and including the government of Thabo Mbeki.
Stressing economic, social, cultural and environmental matters as well as political history, it shows how South Africa has become a single country. On the one hand it lays emphasis on the continuing influence of the country's African heritage, and shows how this continues to affect social structures, ways of thinking, and ideas of governance. On the other, it chronicles the processes of colonial conquest and of economic development stemming from the industrial revolution.
This leads on to a description and analysis of the fundamental political changes South Africa has recently undergone, while providing a background for the understanding of those many things which have not changed.
