The Modern Sudan, 1820-1956: The present position of historical studies

The modern history of the Sudan is here considered as beginning with the Turco-Egyptian invasion of a.d. 1820. From this date written records begin to be available in quantity, in sharp contrast to the pathetic scraps which have survived for the preceding Fung Kingdom of Sennar. This transition is indeed so abrupt that it is easy to over-estimate the extent and solidity of historical knowledge for the modern period. In fact, there are still large tracts where scientific historiography has yet to begin, or where at best a few exploratory soundings have been made; and much of the field has until very recently been dominated by rather superficial ‘general surveys’ often written with an eye to the current political situation.