Professor Dr. John Thornton

Biography

John K. Thornton is a Professor of History and African American Studies at Boston University, where his scholarly focus is primarily on the history of West Central Africa and the African Diaspora. His work broadly encompasses African, Atlantic, and world history, particularly during the early nineteenth century. Thornton has published extensively on a variety of topics, including the history of the Kingdom of Kongo and the implications of African warfare in Atlantic Africa. His notable works include 'Kingdom Kongo: Civil War and Transition,' 'Kongolese Saint Anthony,' and 'Africa Africans Making the Atlantic World.' In addition to his publications, he is engaged in consulting for public projects and has contributed to major exhibitions such as 'African Voices' at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. Thornton has also served as a consultant for several PBS series focused on African American history. Currently, he is completing a significant project on the general history of the Atlantic Basin titled 'Cultural History of the Atlantic World: Encounter Development Formation of Atlantic Culture' to be published by Cambridge University Press.

Research Interests