A sweeping and fiercely argued reconstruction of African history, Chancellor Williams' The Destruction of Black Civilization examines the political, cultural and military forces that contributed to the decline of ancient African states and the fragmentation of Black political power.

First published in 1971, the book became an influential text in Pan-African historical thought and Black liberation movements. Drawing on decades of historical research, Williams traces the development of African civilisations from antiquity through the rise of powerful kingdoms and empires, investigating the effects of conquest, enslavement, religious expansion and European colonialism.

Williams challenges histories that marginalised African intellectual and political achievements, paying particular attention to the destruction of institutions, libraries and written records, and the consequences of losing control over the telling of one's own history. His account is ambitious and polemical, with some historical interpretations remaining contested, but its central concern extends beyond the recovery of the past to the relationship between historical knowledge, collective identity and political self-determination.

Third World Press, Chicago, third edition, later printing. Paperback. Very good condition, with light shelf wear and minor handling marks.