ADHS 1801 Themes of African History

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.- African proverb African history is an exciting subject to study. Human history is longest in Africa and our understanding of this long history is changing because of new discoveries and also because of the changing perspectives of scholars themselves in recent years. In this course, we will work on gaining an understanding of the events and developments of human experiences in Africa over the millennia and we will also examine how perspectives of scholars and people involved in African history have changed. Frequently in the past, people have emphasized how African history relates to the history of other regions, but currently, more emphasis is being given to understanding African history on its own terms. In addition, we will try to see the significance of the African historical experience in a more global or world historical perspective. We will look at major themes, and the myths surrounding them, in our study of African history. These will include: writing the history of Africa, encounters, the Atlantic slave trade, imperialism and colonialism, the history of movements of distinctive African identity (including the rise of nationalism), and the experience of independence. We will also give consideration to Africa's role in globalization to the present day (and looking to the future).