Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

History Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 9 of 9

Full-Text Articles in History

America And Political Islam, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

America And Political Islam, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

I received this book before 11 September 2001 and am reviewing it in the aftermath of that day. One could not imagine a more intense crucible in which to view a work on political Islam. Under the glare of the fiery collapse at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and with bombs falling on Taliban and al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, the work of an author and a reviewer requires even greater scrutiny.


Heresy In The University, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

Heresy In The University, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

It would be very difficult to find a book that has generated more heat and some light in the closing decades of the twentieth century than the 1987/1991 publication of the two-volume Black Athena by Martin Bernal. The same press has been used by Jacques Berlinerblau to add still more fuel to this fire. Appropriate to the massive documentation and notes for Bernal, the book under review also has some 45 pages of notes, 30 pages of bibliography, and a helpful 13-page index. So this "clash of the academic titans" continues. Is there something new to add to this debate?


Kordofan Invaded, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

Kordofan Invaded, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

The history of Sudan still reflects the country's struggle to find its identity between Middle Eastern and African studies. Even within Sudan, there are spheres of interest ranging from the expanding ancient studies of Nubia to the protracted conflict between so-called Afro-Arab northerners and Nilotic southerners. Lost in these expanding domains are the histories of eastern Sudan and Kordofan to the west. Even the historiography of Sennar and Darfur is far better established than that of Kordofan. Thus, the very title of the book being reviewed suggests that Kordofan is an "invaded" and "peripheral" area on the edge of the …


Seed Of Redemption, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

Seed Of Redemption, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

It is hard to imagine that a single author could so consistently produce published works of the highest quality, with great creativity, on diverse subjects for a variety of audiences. Dr. Deng has made pioneering contributions to law and anthropology as well as to the analysis and practice of foreign relations and diplomacy, so perhaps it is not surprising that in writing his first novel, he should do very well again.


The Eritrean War, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

The Eritrean War, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

With kidnappings, major hostilities and violence the world is beginning to learn of a smoldering conflict in the Horn of Africa. Yet for those who have followed the fourteen-year guerrilla war the outbreak of heavy fighting in early 1975 comes as little surprise. The Eritrean Liberation Front has only brought greater attention to this movement for the restoration of national sovereignty. For those who have probed the history of the region, it should be clear that Eritrea has probably never been fully integrated into Ethiopia proper. In this article attention is focused initially on some geographic and historical basics.


Guinea-Bissau, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

Guinea-Bissau, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

On 24 September 1973 history was made in Africa. The first sub-Saharan African nation unilaterally declared its sovereignty from European colonialism following a protracted armed struggle. Most African nations gained their independence from colonial powers by negotiation and peaceful transfer of authority. True enough, this transfer was sometimes linked with prolonged periods of demonstrations, strikes, and nationalist propagandizing, but with the exception of Algeria (and perhaps Ethiopia) there were no wars of national liberation which led to a declaration of independence until Guinea-Bissau. The implications of this move are immense.


War Clouds On The Horn Of Africa, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

War Clouds On The Horn Of Africa, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

To review a book published five years ago describing a region in great turbulence is a great challenge. As one of those who has also written on aspects of the Horn of Africa it is tragically clear that the region's hostilities have brought misery and death for thousands. Resting with their remains are countless prophecies and predictions which had sought to analyze the latest events. These remarks may sound like defensive apologies of the author of this book, but I will defend him by assessing the difficulty of interpreting a dynamic and volatile region in the paroxysms of radical change.


Black Athena Writes Back, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

Black Athena Writes Back, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

Martin Beral has been defending Black Athena since 1987. By now, most scholars have drawn their own conclusions in various forums. In short, Bernal seeks to overthrow the dominant paradigm about the connections of Greco-Roman civilization to Egypt and the Near East. He attacked its logic and methodology and criticized possible contamination with anti-Semitism and reluctance to see Egyptian civilization, located in Africa, as an influence upon Greek civilization. I looked forward to the logic and evidence of his defense and especially to learn of any new ideas that Beral might present.


Cry Of The Owl / Book Review, Richard Lobban Apr 2012

Cry Of The Owl / Book Review, Richard Lobban

Richard A Lobban

Some may mistake this book for Francis Deng's sequel to his Seed of Redemption. True, this book builds on earlier themes and the setting has its similarities. This book is also destined to take a place of significance in Sudanese literature. Even with the thematic convergences, the issues at hand are so vital to the understanding of Sudanese culture and politics that they require deeper analysis.