Empires, Slavery, and Revolution: Africa to 1800
HIST 217
Spring 2020
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AFAM 217 |
| Certificates: International Relations, International Relations Minor, African Studies Minor |
| Course Cluster: African Studies, African Studies Minor |
In this course we will examine the dynamic political and social histories of precolonial Africa. We will study the rise of kingdoms and empires such as Mali and Kongo, as well as revolutions in society from the technological development of iron production, to the emergence of trade networks, the development of ancient cities, the spread of religious healing and reform movements such as Cwezi spirit possession, and the role of gender in early African societies. Over the course of the semester we will also consider the impact of slavery and the first African encounters with Europeans. The methods for studying the early African past are interdisciplinary. You will have the opportunity to explore how ancient Africa has been imagined in the past by Africans and early Arabic and European observers, and how contemporary scholars write these histories. As we trace a history of early Africa in the world, we will consider several methods: the study of myths and oral traditions, linguistic and archaeological data, as well as ecological and archival records. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AFST-MN)(HIST-MN)(HIST) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Readings:
Collins ed., DOCUMENTS FROM THE AFRICAN PAST (2001)
Conrad ed., SUNJATA: THE WEST AFRICAN EPIC OF THE MANDE PEOPLES (2004)
Hamdun and King, IBN BATTUTA IN BLACK AFRICA (2003)
Konadu, TRANSATLANTIC AFRICA 1400-1888, 1400-1888 (2015)
Northrup, AFRICA'S DISCOVERY OF EUROPE (2002) (Selected Chapters)
Additional Readings TBA
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Examinations and Assignments:
Major Assignments and Exams:
2 Short Papers; Midterm Exam; Final Exam; Regular Reflection Journal Entries |
| Instructor(s): Twagira,Laura Ann Times: .M..... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: FEAS SEM; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 2 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 8 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 5 | FR: 5 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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