HIST 2706A: Ancient and Pre-colonial Africa
Fall 2024
Instructor: Stephen Emmanuel Osei-Owusu
BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course takes exposes students to a panoramic view and apreciation of ancient African cultures and civilizations. It introduces students to important geographical landmarks which define Africa, the major documentssources used for the study of African history, civilizations which rose and fell within certain defined geographies like the Western Sudan, Southern Africa, and the Maghrib. The course provides insights into the processes involved in the formation of the early major polities in the Savannah (Ghana, Mali, Songhai) of West Africa, Great Zimbabwe, the Zulu Kingdom, among others. Important trade systems which were central to the develoment of these civilizations such as the trans-Saharan trade system, and the trans-Atlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades from 600 BCE to the 19th century are explored. Finally, important social and political developments which appeared at the dawn of colonial rule in Africa are discussed and their residual impact on colonialism in Africa are all assessed.
Lectures/groups three hours a week.