HIST 124 The History of Pre-Colonial Africa and its Global Connections

The course introduces students to the history of pre-colonial Africa and the global connections which different African societies sustained over centuries before colonization. By foregrounding local forms of technological innovation, empire building and international trade, the course invites students to explore contemporary representations of Africa which either portray pre-colonial Africa as unchanging or as disconnected from the rest of the world prior to the arrival of Europeans. The course also challenges students to consider what Africa means to them and what has shaped their perceptions of Africa. By exposing students to multiple perspectives and different forms of accounting for the past through the use novels, archival material, music, documentaries and journal articles, this course enables students to engage with Africa’s past in dynamic ways. Additionally, the course introduces students to the technical aspects of historical methods and writing. [GM1, SS, W]

Instructor

Seda