Lewis-Clark State College, Spring 2010
HIST 392: Africa and the World (Since 1885)

Prof. Eric Martin
310 Spalding Hall (Office Hours: T/Th 12-1:15, W 1:30-2:45, and by appointment) Class Meets In: TBA
Phone: (208) 792-2281 Email: elmartin@lcsc.edu Website: www.lcsc.edu/elmartin

Course Description: This course is a survey of African and African-Carribbean history since the Berlin Conference of 1885, when the continent was carved up into colonies by the European world powers. Three main issues will be examined: understanding the role of "The New Imperialism." in African and African-Carribbean history, colonial resistence and the process of decolonization, the legacy of colonialism in Africa and the African-Carribbean.

I assume that you have successfully completed Eng. 102 and are a Junior or Senior, or that we have talked.

Purpose/Goals
 By the end of the course, you should have a demonstrable understanding of African and African-Carribbean history since 1885. More generally, as a Social Science course, History 392 should help you to do at least some of the following:

Required Materials

Grading and Evaluation

[The standard grading scale will be used in this course. 90 and above = A: Excellent Work; 80-89 = B: Above Average Work; 70-79 = C: Average Work; 60-69 = D: Below Average Work; 59 and below = F: Fail. +'s and -'s will also be used. - = _0-_2, + = _7-_9]

Attendance Policy: Excessive unexcused absences (more than two) will have a detrimental impact on your final grade at the rate of one grading increment (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, F) for every unexcused absence beyond two. It is your responsibility to make arrangements if an emergency prevents you from turning in an assignment on time or requires you to be away from class for an extended period. Get any missed notes from a classmate. No assignment will be accepted late without a previous arrangement or a paperwork trail as indicated in the LCSC handbook. You are expected to be prepared for class and on time.

Academic Honesty: You are on your honor at all times and my presumption is that each of you is honest. However, the College does not tolerate academic dishonesty of any sort. All written work that you hand in -- essays and examinations -- must be exclusively your work. Contact me if you are not clear on this point.

Schedule

Schedule is subject to frequent change.


Week One 1/12 - 1/14 Intro to class and Basic Africa Geography

(T) Intro to class and each other;

(Th) A Tradition of Myths and Stereotypes; Basic Physical and Cultural Geography of Africa
Readings: Joseph Harris, Africans and Their History, Chapter 1 "A Tradition of Myths and Stereotypes" (19p) [on LCSC E reserve]


Week Two 1/19-1/21 Africa on the Eve on Colonialization

(T) Video: Africa: The Bible and the Gun
Readings:

(Th) Student Led Discussion
Readings: A. Adu Boahen, African Perspectives on Colonialism, Preface & Chapter 1 "The Eve of Colonial Conquest and Occupation" (26p) [Map African Peoples and States...]

1. Kaitlyn
2. Chris
3. Amy
4. Don
5. Doug
6. Lonny

In addition to being prepared to lead the class through the main points of the assigned readings, as a group, prepare in advance 6 questions that you think would produce interesting class discussion over the required readings. Email those questions to me-- as a group -- before noon on the day of your discussion. Be prepared to either facilitate the discussion as a group or carry the burden of the discussion on this day.

- John Illfe, Africans: The History of a Continent, Chapter 8 "Regional Diversity in the Nineteenth Century" (18p)
- J. F. A. AJAYI, General History of Africa Vol. 6: Africa in the Nineteenth Century until the 1880s "Chapter 29: Conclusion: Africa on the eve of the European conquest."

Week Three 1/26-1/28 The Partition and Colonization of Africa

(T) Video: Africa: That Magnificent African Cake
Readings:

(Th) Student Led Discussion
Readings: A. Adu Boahen, African Perspectives on Colonialism,Chapter 2 "The Imposition of the Colonial System: Initiatives and Responses" (30 p)

1. Chrystal
2. Nathan G
3. Nathan J
4. Matthew Marchelli
5. Matthew McCarley
6. Sophia

In addition to being prepared to lead the class through the main points of the assigned readings, as a group, prepare in advance 6 questions that you think would produce interesting class discussion over the required readings. Email those questions to me-- as a group -- before noon on the day of your discussion. Be prepared to either facilitate the discussion as a group or carry the burden of the discussion on this day.

Week Four 2/2-2/4:

(T). Student Led Discussion
Readings: A. Adu Boahen, African Perspectives on Colonialism, Chapter 3 "The Operation of the Colonial System" (35 p)

1. Mark
2. Ernesto
3. Alexandra
4. Doug S
5. Keith
6. Lindsay

In addition to being prepared to lead the class through the main points of the assigned readings, as a group, prepare in advance 6 questions that you think would produce interesting class discussion over the required readings. Email those questions to me-- as a group -- before noon on the day of your discussion. Be prepared to either facilitate the discussion as a group or carry the burden of the discussion on this day.

(Th) Student Led Discussion
Readings: A. Adu Boahen, African Perspectives on Colonialism,Chapter 4 "Colonial Impact" (18p)
- Mark Twain, King Leopold's Soliloquy (1905) (20p)

1. Trae
2. Chris T
3. Sarah
4. Jarvis
5. Josh
6. Vivian

In addition to being prepared to lead the class through the main points of the assigned readings, as a group, prepare in advance 6 questions that you think would produce interesting class discussion over the required readings. Email those questions to me-- as a group -- before noon on the day of your discussion. Be prepared to either facilitate the discussion as a group or carry the burden of the discussion on this day.


Week Five 2/9-2/11 King Leopold's Ghost

(T) Book Analysis - King Leopold's Ghost DUE
Readings: Adam Hochschild, King Leopold's Ghost

(Th)
Readings: Adam Hochschild, King Leopold's Ghost



Week Six 2/16-2/18 Marcus Garvey

(T) Video: Marcus Garvey
Readings: Africa Past and Present Podcasts: Marcus Garvey and the African Diaspoa;

(Th) (Cont) Africa Geography Quiz
Readings: Africa Past and Present Podcasts: Garvey in Africa

 

Week Seven 2/23-2/25

(T)
Readings: John Illfe, Africans: The History of a Continent, Chapter 10 "Colonial change, 1918-1950" (32 p) [on LCSC E reserve]

1. Kaitlyn
2. Chris C
3. Amy
4. Don
5. Doug C
6. Lonny
7. Chrystal


(Th)
Readings: Robert July, A History of the African People, Chapter 15 "Early Nationalist Stirrings West Africa" (21p) [on LCSC E reserve]
Robert July, A History of the African People, Chapter 18 "Between World Wars -- Nationalist Frustrations in West Africa" (21 p) [on LCSC E reserve]

Ch. 15
1.Nathan G
2.Nathan J
3. Matt
4. Sophia
5. Ernesto
6. Alexandra
7.Doug S.

Ch. 18
8. Josh
9. Keith
10. Lindsay
11. Chris T
12. Trae
13. Jarvis
14. Vivian


Week Eight 3/2-3/4

T) EXAM I: The Colonial Period
Readings:

 

TH) TBA
Readings:


Week Nine 3/9-3/11

T) Video: Out of Africa
Readings:

TH) Native American Awareness Week: Meet in the Williams Conference Center

Spring Break 3/15-3/19

 

Week Ten 3/23-3/25 (March 22, last day to withdraw)

(T) Video: African Nationalism
Readings: TBA

(Th) Nkrumah and the Pan-African Movement West Africa
Readings: From Francis to Kwame

Video: Black Power


Week Eleven 3/30-4/1

(T)
Readings: Kwame Nkrumah, Neo-Colonialism, the Last Stage of Imperialism (1965)

(Th)
Readings: Reading Day

 

Week Twelve 4/6-4/8

(T)
Readings: Discourse on Colonialism

(Th)
Readings: Frantz Fanon, Chapter Three. The Pitfalls of National Consciousness in The Wretched of the Earth

 

Week Thirteen 4/13-4/15 The Post-Colonial Expierience: Nigeria

(T): Fela: Music is the Weapon
Readings:

 

(Th) Ken Saro-Wiwa "Basi and Company" "Transistor Radio" via You Tube Part 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4; "Dead Men Dont Bite" via You Tube Part 1/3, 2/3, 3/3; "The Machine" 1/3, 2/3, 3/3; "The Courier" 1/3, 2/3, 3/3

Ken Saro-Wiwa: his last interview, part I, part II

Readings: On your own, come to class with some idea as to who Ken Saro-Wiwa was.


Week Fourteen 4/20- 4/22 Discussion: Nervous Conditions

(T) OUTLINE DUE

(Th) Discussion Continued


Week Fifteen 4/27- 4/29 Evaluations

(T) TBA

(Th) EXAM #2

 

Week Sixteen 5/4-5/6

(T) Book Analysis Due

(Th) LCSC Senior Research Presentations


5/11 FINAL EXAM SCHEDULED


 

 

Class Resources

Talkabout History Historians from Africa and America in conversation :

1. Talkabout History The importance of African History (half an hour)
2. Talkabout History The future of African History (half an hour)

 

Africa in History looks at six historical debates including the Origin of Ancient Egypt and Africa's Role in the Slave Trade (30 minutes duration each)

These programmes will be put online when production is completed.

1. Ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley
(Broadcast 14.12.01)

2. Religion in Africa
(Broadcast: 21.12.01)

3. Legacy of Great Empires
(Broadcast: 28.12.01)

4. Slavery
(Broadcast: 4.01.02)

5. Colonialism
(To be broadcast: 11.01.02)

6. Independence
(To be broadcast: 18.01.02)

 

 

 

The Story of Africa is a twenty four part narrative history of the continent, taking listeners from the Dawn of Man to Independence. (30 minutes duration each.)

1. Origins of Humankind
How humanity emerged in East Africa and spread from the continent to populate other parts of the world.

2. Africa & the Nile Valley
Looking at the great civilisations of Egypt and Kush and assessing the links between the Nile Valley and other parts of Africa.

3. The Berbers
How the original peoples of North Africa reacted to wave upon wave of colonisation at the hands of Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs.

4. The Bantu Migrations
One of the most extraordinary population movements in history - how the Bantu spread into East and Southern Africa transforming the culture and linguistics of the continent.

5. Traditional Religions
How African traditional beliefs, the veneration of ancestors and the power of taboos has affected history.

6. The Coming of Christianity
The rise of Christianity in Egypt and the establishment of powerful Christian states in Axum and Nubia.

7. The Coming of Islam
The rise of Arabic dynasties, and the spread of Islam throughout north and sub-Saharan Africa.

8. The Empire of Ancient Ghana
How early settlements developed into vital commercial centres growing rich on Saharan trade.

9. The Kingdoms of Mali and Songhay
The emergence of Timbuktu as a centre of learning and the glories of an empire built on gold.

10. The Swahili Coast
The development of coastal communities from small trading settlements to city-states and the emergence of the Swahili language and peoples.

11. Central Africa & the Coming of the Portuguese
The Kingdoms of Great Zimbabwe and Kongo, and the impact of Portuguese trading on inland Africa.

12. The Art of Ife and Benin
An extraordinary cultural flowering which reaches its peak in the twelfth century. And the role of artistic expression in Africa's history.

13. Hausa City States & the Fulani Jihad
The role of Usman dan Fodio, and the foundation of the city-states of Hausaland.

14. Roots of African Slavery
A look at the concept of slavery in Africa before the arrival of Europeans.

15. The Transatlantic Slave Trade
Eyewitness accounts of slave raids on African towns and villages and the horror of the Middle Passage.

16. East African Slavery
Accounts from Zanzibar and Bagamoyo on the Arab slave trade and the role of African traders such as Tippu Tip.

17. Africa on the Eve of Colonialism
Looking at urban and rural societies, pan-African trade and culture on the eve of European exploitation.

18. The Mfecane
African resistance to the Boers, the rise of the Zulu peoples and their expansion northwards at the expense of other Bantu groups.

19. Partition & Resistance
How the Scramble for Africa led to an arbitrary redrawing of the map of Africa by European diplomats at the Congress of Berlin.

20. Life under Colonialism
Eyewitness accounts from throughout the continent on what it was like to live under British, French, German and Portuguese rulers.

21. The Challenges to Colonialism
The beginnings of resistance and the emergence of anti-colonial religious, cultural and political movements.

22. Independence
Looking at how a variety of colonies achieved independence - some peacefully, some through violence.

23. Apartheid
The struggle against the racist white government and the eventual overthrow of apartheid culminating in the release and election as President of Nelson Mandela.

24. The Nation State
The emergence of independent states and the political, social and economic challenges facing those who led them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridging World History

xUNIT 3: Human Migrations VIDEO SEGMENT: Out of Africa;
xUNIT 3: Human Migrations VIDEO SEGMENT: Linguistic Clues: Bantu Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa

xUNIT 6: Order and Early Societies VIDEO SEGMENT: Igbo-Ukwu: Archaeology and Early States

xUNIT 7: The Spread of Religions VIDEO SEGMENT: Islam

x UNIT 9: Connections Across Land VIDEO SEGMENT: The Gold Roads

xUNIT 10: Connections Across Water VIDEO SEGMENT: The Indian Ocean World

xUNIT 11: Early Empires VIDEO SEGMENT: The Mali Empire

xUNIT 12: Transmission of Traditions VIDEO SEGMENT: Oral Traditions in West Africa

xUNIT 13: Family and Household VIDEO SEGMENT: The Early Islamic Family and Household

xUNIT 14: Land and Labor Relationships VIDEO SEGMENT: Slavery and Serfdom: From the Ancient World to Tsarist Russia
xUNIT 14: Land and Labor Relationships VIDEO SEGMENT: Islamic Southeast Asia
xUNIT 14: Land and Labor Relationships VIDEO SEGMENT: The Americas and the Globalization of Labor: Slavery and Resistance

UNIT 15: Early Global Commodities VIDEO SEGMENT: Silver Connects the World: Europe, East Asia, and West Africa

UNIT 16: Food, Demographics, and Culture VIDEO SEGMENT: Food and the Columbian Exchange: The Atlantic Voyages
UNIT 16: Food, Demographics, and Culture VIDEO SEGMENT: Food and the Columbian Exchange: The Caribbean Experience

UNIT 17: Ideas Shape the World VIDEO SEGMENT: Revolutions in the Americas
UNIT 17: Ideas Shape the World VIDEO SEGMENT: Islamic Revitalization Movements

UNIT 20: Imperial Designs VIDEO SEGMENT: Imperialism in South Africa

UNIT 21: Colonial Identities VIDEO SEGMENT: Colonial Zanzibar

UNIT 22: Global War and Peace VIDEO SEGMENT: Post-Colonialism in the Belgian Congo

UNIT 25: Global Popular Culture VIDEO SEGMENT: Reggae Music: Out of Africa

 

Test Your African Geography

African Geography

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/African_Geography.htm#Games

 

Human Rights Group Campaigns To End Use Of Child Politicians In Africa

In The Know / Is Our Wealth Hurting Africa's Feelings?

Newsroom / U.S. Shocked Andorra Not In Africa

In The Know / Situation In Nigeria Seems Pretty Complex