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CS92PROD
Empires, Slavery, and Revolution: Africa to 1800


HIST 217
Spring 2020
Section: 01  
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.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (AFST-MN)(CGST-MN)(HIST-MN)(HIST)
Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above

Last Updated on MAR-29-2024
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