A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid

(Hardback)

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Description

This work offers the first one-volume comprehensive military history of modern South Africa. A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid represents the first comprehensive military history of South Africa from the beginning of European colonization in the Cape during the 1650s to the current postapartheid republic. With particular emphasis on the last 200 years, this balanced analysis stresses the historical importance of warfare and military structures in the shaping of modern South African society. Important themes include military adaptation during the process of colonial conquest and African resistance, the growth of South Africa as a regional military power from the early 20th century, and South African involvement in conflicts of the decolonization era. Organized chronologically, each chapter reviews the major conflicts, policies, and military issues of a specific period in South African history. Coverage includes the wars of colonial conquest (1830-69), the diamond wars (1869-81), the gold wars (1886-1910), World Wars I and II (1910-45), and the apartheid wars (1948-94).

Reviews

The publication of A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid is most definitely going to be exciting for scholars and students of African military history because it arguably marks one of the few times that a comprehensive military history of an African country from the earliest time possible to the present has been published. . . . Stapleton thus successfully provides his readers with an illuminating study of warfare and military structures in the evolution of the South African society from the seventeenth century to the end of apartheid. * Canadian Journal of African Studies *
In all, this is a book written by someone who greatly enjoys his subject. Although explicitly a military history, this fluidly written work is more than merely military history and will appeal to a broad range of readers interested in African and South African history. With its chronologically ordered, compact and well balanced chapters, the book is ideally suited for teaching and will form a welcome addition to any reading list on South African history. * Journal of Military History *
Essential for large libraries in South Africa. Summing Up: Recommended. Academic and larger public libraries with African studies collections. Undergraduates and general readers. * Choice *

Author Bio

Timothy J. Stapleton is professor of African history at Trent University, Ontario, Canada, and has taught at Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare in South Africa.