Empires, Slavery, and Revolution: Africa to 1800
HIST 217
Fall 2020 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
AFAM 217 |
| Course Cluster and Certificates: 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 Major Requirement for: (AFST-MN)(CGST-MN)(HIST-MN)(HIST) |
Major Readings:
David Conrad (ed), SUNJATA: THE WEST AFRICAN EPIC OF THE MANDE PEOPLES (2004)
Innocent Pikirayi, THE ZIMBABWE CULTURE: ORIGINS AND DECLINE OF SOUTHERN ZAMBEZIAN STATES (2001)
Kwasi Konadu, TRANSATLANTIC AFRICA,1440-1888 (2015)
Additional Readings TBA
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Examinations and Assignments:
1 Map Quiz, 2 Short Papers, 1 Midterm exam, 1 Final Exam, Regular forum posts |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Attendance and class participation will be factored into the final grade |
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