Ghislaine Lydon

Ghislaine Lydon is Professor of History at UCLA, researching African economies from antiquity to the 15th century. Her award-winning book 'On Trans-Saharan Trails' analyzes Islamic legal frameworks governing caravan trade networks.

Current projects reconstruct early literacy's role in economic organization and women's rights in Muslim Africa. She utilizes Arabic manuscripts, legal documents, and oral histories to challenge Eurocentric narratives.

Honors include the Martin A. Klein Prize (2009) for contributions to African history. Her work bridges North/West African studies and informs global economic history scholarship.