HI 6550 - Topics in African History

Credits: 3

Description Until recently the history of the African continent has been either deemed to be non-existent, or subjected to considerable distortions. Yet, Africa is the place where human societies began their process of differentiation, and where seminal civilizations, such as ancient Egypt, the Kongo and Monomotapa developed. This course introduces teacher candidates to the main episodes of the history of African peoples, from an African perspective whenever possible. Topics focus on the medieval empires of Ghana, Mali, and the Songhai; on the Atlantic slave trade; on European colonization; on the struggles for independence from the 1950s through the 1990s; and on the challenges experienced by postcolonial Africa - environmental devastation, genocides and pandemics, among others. The course goal is to expose candidates to the major concepts, theories and epistemological debates in African history and to encourage their active, critical engagement with African sources and African debates and issues.