The shaping of Somali society: reconstructing the history of a pastoral people, 1600-1900

Cassanelli, Lee V.

Book

The shaping of Somali society: reconstructing the history of a pastoral people, 1600-1900

University of Pennsylvania Press • Philadelphia • Published In 1982 • Pages: xvi, 311

By: Cassanelli, Lee V..

Abstract
This is a reconstructive and interpretive analysis of Somali history during the three centuries preceding 1900 -- the pre-colonial period. Throughout this work Cassanelli discusses social and political change, at least partly in terms of the resources that are available within the region which can be drawn upon by different corporate groups (p. 5). The study begins with a description of the basic features of Somali society as they appeared at the start of the twentieth century, with particualr reference to regional variation in culture, mode of production, and socio-political organization. Somali historiography is then reviewed as it developed in the twentieth century with a discussion of the issues that have molded our understanding of the Somali past. This information sets the stage for the remainder of the document which examines several of the processes that helped shape Somali society (e.g., pastoral power, Islamic themes in history, commerce and economy, response to colonial occupation, etc.).

Prophets and ascetics

Religious denominations

Somali

HRAF PubDate

1997

Region

Africa