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                                                        Civilizations of Africa

                                                    History 3013

                                         Arkansas State University

                                                     Spring 2007

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Instructor:         Erik Gilbert

Phone:             972-2137

Email:               egilbert@astate.edu

Website:           http://www.clt.astate.edu/egilbert/

Office hours:    10-12 Monday and Wednesday

Office:              106 Wilson

Texts:  

            Gilbert and Reynolds, Africa in World History

            Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God

            Olaudah Equiano, Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African

The Course

History 3183 is an introduction the major themes of African History.  By the end of the course you should understand Africa's place in the broad sweep of world history, know the historical characteristics of the major regions of the continent, and understand the changing nature of the relationship between Africa and Europe.

Requirements

Attendance:

You need to attend all classes unless you have a medical excuse.

Readings:

Please do the readings before the class for which they are assigned.  Often, especially in the case of the supplementary books, class meetings will involve discussions of the readings. 

Exams:

There will be a mid-term and a final exam. There will also be a map quiz at the beginning of the semester.

Papers:

You will write one paper of 6 to 10 pages which compares the Igbo land portrayed in Equiano's Interesting Narrative to that in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.  I will provide you with more information about the paper on a separate sheet.  You may, if you prefer, write a research paper.  If you wish to pursue this option please let me know early in the semester.  You may not do the research paper without prior approval.

Country Overview:

I would like each of you to become the class expert on a modern African nation.  I will hand out a list of nations from which to choose.  After a few trips to the library you will prepare a three to five page overview of your country.  I will provide a separate handout with some suggestions as to what ought to be included and where you might find the relevant information. 

Grading:

Map Quiz                                 10%

Country Overview                    15%

Mid-term exam             20%

Final Exam                               20%

Paper                                       35%    

I reserve the right to reward improvement and participation.

Academic honesty:

Any written work you turn in must be your own.  Any time you use another person's words or ideas you must give proper credit to that person by citing their work.  If you do not know how to cite another person's work, or are not sure when it is necessary to do so, please ask me. I assume that each of you is honest and I will not be looking over your shoulders, but any violation of the University's policy on academic honesty will be dealt with harshly.

Schedule

Jan. 8-12:                     Course Introduction: Basic Geography of the African Continent

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Preface and Chap 1

Jan. 15-19:                   Peopling a Continent;

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 2

Map Quiz: Jan. 21

Jan. 22-26:                   Cows, Crops, and Iron; Video: "Mastering a Continent"

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, 4.

Jan. 29-Feb 2:              Religions of Africa

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chap 5

Feb 5-9:                       Major States of Pre-colonial Africa - The Sahel

Reading, Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 6.

Feb. 9: Country Overviews due in class. 

Feb. 12-16:                  Major States of Pre-colonial Africa - East Africa

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 7.

Feb. 19-23                   Slavery and the Origins of the Atlantic World

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 8. 

                                                                Equiano, Chaps. 1-7

Feb 23: Midterm Exam

Feb 26-March 2:                      West Africa in the Age of the Slave Trade

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 9

March 5-9:                   East Africa in the Age of the Slave Trade

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 11.

March 12-16:               Origins of Colonialism

Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 13. Achebe, Things Fall Apart, all

March 19-23:               Spring Break

March 26-30:   Political and Economic Change;

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapters 12 and 14, and Achebe, Arrow of God (begin)

April 2-6:                     Political and Economic Change (continued)

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds Chapter 15, Achebe, Arrow of God (finish).

April 9-13:                   The Movement toward Independence

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 17.

April 13: papers due in class

April 16-20:                 Contemporary Africa

                                                Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapters 16 and 18 .

April 23:                       Voluntary exam review.