Haut-Sénégal-Niger (Soudan français), Tome 2 (de 3): l'histoire

This volume opens a sweeping portrait of the lands once called French Sudan, tracing their story from the shadowy depths of oral tradition to the first written whispers of the tenth‑century traveler Ibn‑Haoukal. The author sketches how ancient observers, from Galen to medieval scholars, caught only fleeting glimpses of the peoples and landscapes, leaving modern readers to piece together a mosaic from fragmentary reports and lingering legends.

From there the book turns to the region’s economic heartbeat, guiding listeners through the tangled web of rivers, trade routes, and thriving markets. Richly illustrated with dozens of photographs and detailed maps, it explores everything from the savanna’s wildlife and forest harvests to the pastoral rhythms of cattle and the sparkle of gold‑bearing veins. By weaving geography, industry, and everyday life together, the work offers a vivid, scholarly yet accessible journey into a corner of Africa that shaped—and was shaped by—its diverse inhabitants.