Medieval Africa: a Resource for Middle School

Discover the glories and weaknesses of Medieval Africa in this well researched history for middle grades.

The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa by Patricia and Frederick McKissack. Square Fish, 1995. 160 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended For: Middle Grades and up, ages 10 and up (note considerations below)

How much do you know about “Medieval” Africa? Have you ever thought much about it before? While Europeans were building castles, sending gallant knights off on quests, fighting amongst themselves for supremacy, and struggling to survive the feudal system, Africans were building fortresses, sending emissaries out on vast journeys, fighting amongst themselves for supremacy, and struggling to maintain their gold and salt mines. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? But the look and feel of sub-Saharan Africa in the Medieval era is worlds away from Europe. Where Christianity made inroads into Europe, Islam built mosques and learning centers in West Africa. Quests were to the Holy Land … in Mecca, instead of Rome or Jerusalem.

The McKissacks offer up a tremendously valuable resource in this slim book. Packed with quotations from historical records, complete with black-and-white hand drawn maps and occasional black and white photographs, this book is a fascinating peek into a group of cultures largely ignored in traditional curricula. While not as gripping or “exciting” as some books being written today, it presents a straightforward account of West Africa’s history from ~500 A.D. through the 1600s. A timeline accompanies the book, helping readers keep the three primary kingdoms straight. One of the greatest strengths of this book is the McKissacks’ reminders of how we know history, what we know based on eyewitness records, and what we have to surmise based on oral tradition. Matter of factly, they present the glories of these amazing kingdoms alongside their weaknesses.

Considerations:

• There are very occasional mentions of marriage customs and coming-of-age traditions. Sub-headings help readers spot possible sections to omit if reading aloud to younger children.
• This is a very balanced historical view, free from some of the overtones of contemporary histories.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4 out of 5

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Resource: Picture Books About the Middle Ages for Middle Schoolers (includes one about Mali that is a great complement to the book above)

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