Niger River explores the profound and enduring relationship between West African civilizations and the river that has shaped their destinies. From its role in sustaining agriculture and enabling trade to its influence on the rise and fall of empires like Mali and Songhai, the Niger River's historical geography reveals a complex interplay between natural resources and human development.
The book delves into the river's hydrological system, highlighting its unique annual flood cycle, akin to a life-giving pulse, and its impact on the surrounding ecosystems, demonstrating how these environmental factors have molded economic and political structures.
The book systematically builds its argument across chapters, starting with the geological formation of the Niger River basin and progressing through agricultural practices, trade dynamics, and the rise and fall of empires. By integrating historical accounts, archaeological findings, and ecological studies, the book offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the river's significance.
Readers will gain insight into how the Niger River has not only facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas but also shaped cultural practices and belief systems, culminating in an exploration of contemporary challenges such as climate change and pollution and suggesting pathways for sustainable management.
