
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
The first chapter starts at the beginning with Homo Sapiens in Africa … and is pretty much a mixed bag. Although it conforms with the consensus, that consensus is currently under fire (especially the information presented on Neanderthals) … so take chapter 1 with a grain of salt. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem get much better as we get further into the book. For example … in discussing the relationship between Khoi and Bantu, there is a statement about Bantu migration through Europe where they apparently picked up metal refining/working (I have not found any support for this statement).
Additionally, the origin myth of the batwa/pygmy people is presented as fact and seems quite improbable (especially lacking citation). By chapter 6 you get an rather incredulous theory of Egyptians coming from a mix of Bantu and Israelites (putting the cultural identity of the latter before the Kingdoms of Egypt … I am pretty sure that is not correct). Now half way through the book the level of questionable scholarship is a serious impediment to any serious recommendation. This was a surprise given how well the History of Asia looked (although that lacks citations as well, so I can't verify those facts either).
Chapter 1 - Homo Sapiens in Africa
Chapter 2 - The San
Chapter 3 - The Hadza
Chapter 4 - The Khoi
Chapter 5 - Pygmy People
Chapter 6 - Israelites in Africa
Chapter 7 - The Bantu
Chapter 8 - Swaziland
Chapter 9 - Khoisan and the Portuguese
Chapter 10 - The Kingdom of Zwide
Chapter 11 - Zululand
Chapter 12 - The House of Mpondo
Chapter 13 - Thembuland
Chapter 14 - Zhosaland
I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#HistoryOfAsia #BookSirens
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