The Horse in West African History

Know about the book -

The Horse in West African History is written by Robin Law and published by Routledge. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 0429954557 (ISBN 10) and 9780429954559 (ISBN 13).

Originally published in 1980 and here re-issued with an updated preface, this book deals with the role of the horse in the societies of West Africa during the pre-colonial period. It traces the history of its introduction and its diffusion within West Africa, and examines the problems of maintaining horses in such a harsh environment. The use of horses in warfare in analysed but the non-military aspects of the West African horse culture are also discussed, principally the use of horses as tokens of status and wealth. The book includes a review of the decline of the West African horse culture in the 20th century, reflecting the passing of a political system based on warfare and slavery.