A colonial empire in crisis -- Empire beyond the mercantile system -- Between enslaved territories and overseas provinces -- Supplying or supplanting the Americas -- A revolutionary crescendo -- Conclusion: Ancien Regime legacies.

This book uses money as a lens through which to analyze the social and economic impact of colonialism on African societies and institutions. It is the first book to address the monetary history of the colonial period in a comprehensive way, covering several areas of the continent and different...