Karthala is a French publishing house specializing in the history, sociology, religion, languages and geopolitics of developing countries.

[3] Karthala was founded in 1980 by Robert Ageneau, who was previously editor of the journal Spiritus (1969–1974), member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit[4] and co-director of another publishing house, Harmattan.

[5] Karthala was founded with the aim of publishing texts on international issues related to developing countries.

Early publications focused on Africa, the Maghreb, the Arab world, Islam, Latin America, and the countries of the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.

[8] The publishing house takes its name from Mount Karthala, an active volcano in the Comoros.