After World War II, the colonial system began to fall apart. Many countries in Asia and Africa started to gain independence, guided by the principle of self-determination outlined in the United Nations Charter of 1945 and a special declaration made in 1960. But the long years of reliance on European powers changed the paths of Afro-Asian peoples and disrupted the historical developments that had existed before colonialism.

A Rich History: Arab-African Connections

Throughout the Middle...