Lewis-Clark State College, Spring 2008
HIST 333: Africa and the World

Prof. Eric Martin
310 Spalding Hall (Office Hours: T/Th 12-1:15, W 1:30-2:45, and by appointment) Class Meets In: SGC B123
Phone: (208) 792-2281 Email: elmartin@lcsc.edu Website: www.lcsc.edu/elmartin

Course Description: This course is a survey of African history from the the times of the earliest hominids to the present, but we will spend the bulk of our time in the post 1500 period. In addition to regional specifics, this course will examine the connections that link Africa to broader global processes. This course will also introduce some of the important historical issues, debates, and scholarship related to Africa such as: the Atlantic slave trade, the problems of colonialism, and issues of modernization and globalization.

I assume that you have successfully completed Eng. 102 and the 9 credit Social Science portion of your Gen. Ed core, which should include at least one 100 level history course (HIST 101, 102, 111, 112). Don't be afraid to build upon this previous knowledge, utilize the relevant books and notes from previous classes.

Purpose/Goals
By the end of the course, you should have a demonstrable understanding of Africa and the World. More generally, as a Social Science course, History 333 should help you to do at least some of the following:

• conduct social science research
• think analytically about social phenomena
• understand and apply social science theories, concepts, and categories
• read and analyze works dealing with social science issues
• write a clear, concise, and organized paper
• present ideas orally in a clear, concise, and organized fashion
• understand and evaluate evidence related to social issues
• demonstrate a knowledge of the history and theory of social thought
• demonstrate a knowledge of major historical periods and social trends
• demonstrate an understanding of various cultural perspectives
• comprehend the social origins and significance of the diversity of human behavior

Required Materials

• Joseph E. Harris, Africans and Their History.
• D.T. Niane, Sundiata: An Epic Tale of Old Mali.
• David Northrup, editor, The Atlantic Slave Trade.
• Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions.
• Internet African History Sourcebook
• Selected Online Videos From Bridging World History
• H-Africa
• Africa Today From BBC and available as a poscast.
• Internal Class Email Discussions
• A Decent Essay on African Historiography
• Occasional Class Handouts and Internet Readings.
  

Grading and Evaluation

• 10% African Geography Quizzes
• 10% Sundiata Essay
• 5% The Atlantic Slave Trade panel discussion #1
• 5% The Atlantic Slave Trade panel discussion #2
• 10% The Atlantic Slave Trade short historiographic essay
• 10% Nervous Conditions Outline and Discussion
• 25% Class Participation
  
• 25% End of Term Essay

[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]

Course Requirements

• African Geography Quizzes (10% of overall grade) You will be subject to an undetermined number of short pop geography quizzes on the basic African physical, political, and cultural geography. The terms will be generated in class. You will be expected to have a blank African map, and your basic African maps with you during each class. The quizzes will be graded in class and may not be made up. You may miss two quizzes without penalty. If you do not miss any, the lowest two quiz grades will be dropped.
  
  

• Sundiata Essay (10% of overall grade)The details for this 4-6 page essay are in the schedule below.

• The Atlantic Slave Trade panel discussion #1 and #2 (10% overall, 5% each): These will be short, group and individual oral presentations on an assigned historiographic issue in the history of the Atlantic slave trade.

  Your group has 20 minutes to introduce the class to an assigned historical debate. Each member is expected to briefly discuss the main points of their assigned document/historian and the group as a whole is expected to point out some of the important ways the docuements relate to each other. The time limit will be strict. Your group will also be responsible for facilitating up to 10 min. of Q and A.

  As a group your job is to be prepared to :
  
  1. explain the essence of the assigned historical debate
  2. describe how your set of documents relate to one another

  As an individual you should be prepared to:

  1. summarize the position taken in your assigned document
  2. contribute to the discussion of all document in your assigned section

  Your group can be creative or straightforward in its presentation.
  

• The Atlantic Slave Trade Historiographic Essay (10% of overall grade): You will write a short (4 pages) essay addressing the question -- Why is understanding the historical debate surrounding The Atlantic Slave Trade relevant for understanding the world of the 21st century ? We can also develop other questions if you are interested, but no surprises.

• Nervous Conditions Outlines and Discussion (10% of overall grade): You will develop a formal outline for discussing these readings. More details in the near future.
  

• Classroom Participation (25% of overall grade): This course is heavily based on discussion and depends upon your active participation. Twenty-five percent of your overall grade will be based on your daily participation in our various classroom discussions over the week's assigned readings and topics. Our discussions will be student led. You are expected to be in class, on time and prepared.
  
  
  • 5% of your class participation grade will be determined by you teaching the class something about Africna food. You are to look up a reciepe for a dish from some where in Africa, prepare it, and discussing a few details of the place from which it came with the class.




• End of Term Essay (20% of overall grade): This six to eight page essays will be evaluated as formal pieces of analytical writing and will be based on a set of questions that we will develop as a group. You will be required to utilize both our class materials and a relevant outside sources to support your positions. You will receive more details on this assignment in the near future.

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 1/15 - 1/17

(T) Intro to class and each other;

(Th) A Tradition of Myths and Stereotypes;
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 1. (p.1-20)

Week Two 1/22-1/24

(T) The Evolution of Early African Societies Video: Black Athenea ( BA Part 1/ 7, BA Part 2/7, BA Part 3/7, BA Part 4/7, BA Part 5/7, BA Part 6/7, BA Part 7/7)
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 2. (p. 21-32)
Online Presentation(s): Bridging World History: UNIT 3: Human Migrations VIDEO SEGMENT: Out of Africa; Bridging World History: UNIT 3: Human Migrations VIDEO SEGMENT: Linguistic Clues: Bantu Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa

(Th) Early Kingdoms and City-States Part I: The Nile Valley; Video Discussion: Black Athenea
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 3 (p. 33-76)
Online Presentation(s): Bridging World History: UNIT 6: Order and Early Societies VIDEO SEGMENT: Igbo-Ukwu: Archaeology and Early States

Week Three 1/29-1/31 African Map Quiz #1 (Th)

(T) Early Kingdoms and City-States Part II: The Muslim Factor
Readings: TBA
Online Presentation(s): Bridging World History: UNIT 7: The Spread of Religions VIDEO SEGMENT: Islam (HIST 101 Review); Bridging World History: UNIT 13: Family and Household VIDEO SEGMENT: The Early Islamic Family and Household (HIST 101 Review)

(Th) Early Kingdoms and City-States Part III The East African Coast
Readings: TBA
Online Presentation(s): Bridging World History: UNIT 10: Connections Across Water VIDEO SEGMENT: The Indian Ocean World

Week Four 2/5-2/7: LCSC Black History Month: Film: Keita, Heritage of the Griot

(T). Early Kingdoms and City-States Part IV: Western Africa
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 3 (p. 49-64)
Online Presentation(s): Bridging World History: UNIT 12: Transmission of Traditions VIDEO SEGMENT: Oral Traditions in West Africa ; Bridging World History: UNIT 11: Early Empires VIDEO SEGMENT: The Mali Empire; Bridging World History: UNIT 9: Connections Across Land VIDEO SEGMENT: The Gold Roads

Kora Music from U Tube: " traditional Djele, or griot, Lankandia plays a fast style of Kora music native to Casamance, Senegal."

*(W) 6pm Film: Keita, Heritage of the Griot

(Th) Film Discussion: Keita, Heritage of the Griot
Readings: Sundiata p.1-26

• Background resources for understanding Sundiata
• Sundiata and Mana Musa on the Web
  
  
• Excellent set of questions to consider from Boston University in PDF form.
• "Keita" film notes and viewing guide from Cora Agatucci at Central Oregon Community College

Week Five 2/12-2/14 (LCSC Black History Month: TBA)

(T) Sundiata Discussion Continued
Readings: Sundiata p. 27 - the end

(Th) TBA

 

Week Six 2/19-2/21 (LCSC Black History Month: TBA)

(T) Assignment Due: Sundiata Essay

[Assignment developed by Dr. Trevor Getz]

In approximately 4-6 pages, students are asked to answer one of the following questions:

1) What are the places/roles of women in this story and in the Malian society as depicted? In what spheres do women appear to act? In what ways are they excluded or included?

2) Consider the theme of ‘heritage’ as it applies to the character of Sundiata himself. What is Sundiata’s heritage? Why is it important to his power, position, personality, etc? What does this tell us about Malian society of this period?

3) Explore the idea of the ‘griot’. D.T. Niane is one, as is the griot who passes the story on to him. What is their link to the griots of Sundiata’s time? Also consider the dual roles of griot as narrator/storyteller and griot as advisor/historian depicted in the book.

You have a lot of leeway with this essay, but be sure to concentrate on the book and on historical themes.

(Th) Africa and the World, 1400-1859; The Expansion of Africa
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 4 (p. 77-94); Ch5 (p. 95-102); Ch 6. (p. 99-120)
Online Presentation(s): Bridging World History: UNIT 14: Land and Labor Relationships VIDEO SEGMENT: Slavery and Serfdom: From the Ancient World to Tsarist Russia; Bridging World History: UNIT 14: Land and Labor Relationships VIDEO SEGMENT: Islamic Southeast Asia ; Bridging World History: UNIT 14: Land and Labor Relationships VIDEO SEGMENT: The Americas and the Globalization of Labor: Slavery and Resistance

 

Week Seven 2/26-2/28 (LCSC Black History Month: Movie: "When We Were Kings" 2/27 6:00pm, MLH 100)

(T) Why Were Africans Enslaved?; The Slave Trade Within Africa
Readings: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 1; Chapter 2

The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 1: Why Were Africans Enslaved?

Williams: Ileah
Jordan: Susan
Davis: Mark
Eltis: Amy

The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 2: The Slave Trade Within Africa

Park: Kaitlyn
Hair: Taylor
Miller: ?
Inikori: Kyle
Thornton: Idirse

 

(Th) The Middle Passage; Effects in Africa; "When We Were Kings" Discussion
Readings: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 3; Chapter 4

Student Panel Discussion: Readings: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 3: The Middle Passage

Equiano: Cheyenne
Buxton : Jennifer
Curtin: Pablo
Klein: Terri
Eltis and Richardson: ?

Student Panel Discussion: Readings: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 4, Effects in Africa

Hawkins: Ileah
Rodney: Susan
Manning: Mark
Thorton: Amy

Week Eight 3/4-3/6

T) Effects in Europe and the Americas; Abolition
Readings: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 5; Chapter 6

Student Panel Discussion: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 5, Effects in Europe and the Americas

Williams: Kaitlyn
Drecher: Taylor
Hall: Kyle
Morgan: Idirse

Student Panel Discussion: The Atlantic Slave Trade Chapter 6, Abolition

Hastings: Cheyenne
Bonsu and Honesty II: Jennifer
Temperley: Pablo
Craton: Terri

TH) TBA : Basil Davidson 'The Bible and the Gun" or "The Carribean"

Week Nine 3/11-3/13

T) The Atlantic Slave Trade Historiographic Essays Due

TH) Native American Awareness Week

Spring Break 3/18-3/20

Week Ten 3/25-3/27 (March 28, last day to withdraw)

(T) Video: Africa: That Magnificent African Cake

- What were the reasons for European Colonialism in Africa?
- What were the variety of forms that European Colonialism in Africa took?
- What are some aspects of the European Colonial Legacy in Africa?

Readings: Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. Ch 7. (p. 121-132); Ch 8 (p. 133-144) Ch 9 (p. 145-156); Ch 10 (p. 157-170)

(W) 7:00 p.m., UI SUB Ballroom Guest Speaker: Tayo Oke, “Politics of Democratic Transition in Africa: Independence, Instability, and the Elusive Goal of ‘Development”

(Th) 250 Word Response Piece on Davidsons Thesis and Evidence or OUTLINE DUE (One Page: single spaces max.) Due
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 11; Ch 12.; Ch. 13

Week Eleven 4/1-4/3

(T) Independence Movements - F.W de Klerk (Last President of Apratheid South Africa 1989-1994)
Readings: Africans and Their History Ch. 14

(W) 7:00 p.m. UI SUB Ballroom “The Challenges of Reconciliation: A Discussion” Ken Attafuah, Director, National Reconciliation Commission of Ghana Mason Smith, Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of Fiji to the U.N.

(Th) Kwame Nkrumah
Readings: From Francis to Nkrumah (Sent Via Email)

Week Twelve 4/8-4/10 (AGF Conference 4/11 - 4/13)

(T) Guest Speaker: Liz Bageant; African Nation Map Q;
Readings: Africans and Their History "Ch. 15 The Transformation in Southern Africa: South Africa and Namibia"

(Th) Video: The Winds of Change
Readings:

Week Thirteen 4/15-4/17 Discussion: Nervous Conditions
Readings:

(T) OUTLINE DUE

(W) By noon on Wed. April 16th you must submite via email a question that you think would be rasonabl for your formal essay. See the criteria for essay below.

(Th) Nervous Conditions Discussion Continued (?); Formal Essay Discussion

Week Fourteen 4/22- 4/24

(T): The Post-Colonial Experience Fela: Music is the Weapon
Readings:

• ITT Lyrics
• Original Sufferhead Lyrics
  • You Tube Footage in Concert
• Power Show Lyrics
  • You Tube Access to song
• Teacher Dont Teach Me Nonsense Lyrics
  • You Tube Footage in Concert

(Th) The Post-Colonial Experience Ken Saro-Wiwa "Basi and Company" "Transistor Radio" via You Tube Part 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
Readings: On your own, come to class with some idea as to who Ken Saro-Wiwa was.

Week Fifteen 4/29- 5/1 Evaluations

(T) Africa in the News from Frontline and Frontline World

• Frontline World: Congo: On the trail of an AK-47 (7:30 min)
• Frontline World: Congo: Hope on the Ballat (13 min)
• Frontline World: Namibia: This Land Is Ours (19:47 min)
• Frontline World: Uganda: The Return Asians back in Africa (16:30 min)

• (Th) End of Term Essay Due

Week Sixteen 5/6-5/8

(T) LCSC Senior Research Presentions

(Th) LCSC Senior Research Presentations

Ch. 11( p. 171-182) Ch. 12 (p. 183-202) Ch. 13 (p. 203-230) Ch. 14 (p. 269-278) Ch. 15 (p. 279-286) Ch. 16 (p. 287-302) Ch.(303-328)

Class Resources

• Links page of Music, News, Art, Religion, & General info related to Africa courtesy of Anne Vasser
  

• Matrix "Based at Michigan State University, MATRIX is devoted to the application of new technologies in humanities and social science teaching and research. The Center creates and maintains online resources, provides training in computing and new teaching technologies, and creates forums for the exchange of ideas and expertise in new teaching technologies."
  
  
• H-Africa Discussion Network, African Studies Collections, African Studies Web Resources all sponsored by the H-Net Discussion Networks which contain online resources for almost any topic you can think of. of almost anything you can think of.
  

• The Story of Africa, an in depth BBC radio series exploring numerous aspects of African History.
  
  
• C.I.A. World Factbook
  

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