The Golden Rhinoceros

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From the birth of Islam in the seventh century to the European exploration of the fifteenth, Africa was a hub of vibrant exchanges in goods and ideas, marking a golden age with civilizations like Ghana, Nubia, and Zimbabwe at the forefront. During this time, African royals, thinkers, and artists played significant roles in the globalized Middle Ages. The narrative brings this often-overlooked era to life, spanning regions from the Sahara and the Nile Valley to the Ethiopian highlands and southern Africa. Drawing on fragmented written sources and years of archaeological experience, the author reconstructs an African past frequently denied its rightful place in history. The exploration includes ruined cities, exquisite art, rare artifacts like the golden rhinoceros of Mapungubwe, ancient maps, and accounts from geographers and travelers. These discoveries illuminate political and architectural achievements, trade, religious beliefs, diplomatic interactions, and individual lives. This work acknowledges Africa's vital role in the Middle Ages while also offering insight into the historian's craft, piecing together written and archaeological evidence to narrate a story that reflects Africa's rich social diversity and its connections to the broader Muslim and Christian worlds.