Beyond

1177 B.C. reexamines the collapse of the Late Bronze Age. Eric Cline shows how invasions by the “Sea Peoples,” combined with drought, earthquakes, revolt, and disrupted trade, brought down civilizations from Greece to Egypt. Highlighting their interdependence, he explains how this interconnected world fell into a centuries-long dark age, setting the stage for classical Greece.

Mahmood Mamdani's Citizen and Subject (1996) critically examines the roots of persistent problems in African governments. Using sharp analytical skills, Mamdani explores how post-colonial states inherited corruption, anti-democratic rule, and racially or ethnically biased structures from European colonial regimes like Britain and France. He evaluates existing explanations, exposing hidden assumptions, and offers a fresh vision for overcoming obstacles to democratization. A dense and insightful study, the book remains highly influential today.