The Nigerian Sudan in the classical age, 7th-15th century

Niger Sudan in the Classical Age traces the history of West Africa between the 7th and 16th centuries. These ten centuries, which roughly correspond to the Middle Ages according to the chronological breakdown of universal history, recapitulate the attempts at political and economic integration of the sub-region, of which the African kingdoms and empires of the Middle Ages represent the essential stages. As such, their successes and failures reveal the original characteristics of African civilization. It is suggested in conclusion that to remove all obstacles to the development of the continent, Africans must become aware of its singular historical evolution which could not generate specialization in three functions.