HIS 307
History of Africa to 1885
Fall 2005 | Lincoln University, PA | Dr. D. Zizwe Poe | T R  2 – 3:50 pm | DH 238
OFFICE:  Room 377, Dickey Hall |  x. 3298  | dpoe@lu.lincoln.edu
OFFICE HOURS:  Thursday, 4 – 7 pm and Friday, 1 – 3 pm & 4 – 5 pm

Course Description:

"History of the Great Civilizations of Ancient Africa.  This course covers all the major kingdoms and civilizations that developed in Africa from the earliest times up to the era of the colonial period.  The civilizations to be included in this course are: Ancient Egypt, Kingdoms of Nubia and Axum, Ancient Ghana, Songhay, Mali, the Ancient Kingdom of the Congo, the Great Zimbabwe and the Zulu Kingdom." (History Department Handbook)

Text for the course:
  • History of Africa by Kevin Shillington. Preface and Chapters 1-17
  • General History of Africa Vols. 1, 2, 3 by UNESCO
  • Other Materials and Multimedia Aids found on WebCT:

Additional articles and Audio-Visual aids are posted on WebCT

Grading formula:

  • Prompt attendance (20%) <You are allowed one week's worth of absences without penalty and the count begins with the first day of class.  Each unexcused absence, thereafter, incurs the loss of 5% up to 25%. Unexcused lateness from three to fifteen minutes are considered a half absence.  "Excused" is defined here as caused by circumstances beyond your control and will be decided on a case by case basis.  In any case, no more than three excused absences will be accepted during the semester. >
  • Quizzes from reading assignments and in-class presentations or videos (20%) 
  • Prompt completion of two written assignments (20%)  <These assignments must be typed, double-spaced, spell-checked, grammar-checked, and emailed to the professor on or before its due date. LATE PAPERS LOSE POINTS AUTOMATICALLY. THE LAST MINUTE BECOMES THE LOST MINUTE!  Number of pages is to be determined according to topics chosen.
  • Midterm (20%)
  • Final (20%)

Student Learner Outcomes:

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to explain the evolution of human society on the African continent.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to explain the Afrocentric method and compare it with 'traditional historical methods' in regards to African history.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to recognize and describe African mass agency.

Themes:

  • According to the monogenetic theory, Africa is the traditional/original home of the homo sapien-sapien. African culture has often been distorted because of a racist hegemonic approach within the academy.  African history is longer than the racist historians have wanted to admit.
  • This class will go as far back as evidence permits and will show the evolution of major African social organizations.  It will use a multidisciplinary approach with an Afrocentric focus.  What this means is that the central concern of our investigation will be the African peoples as subjects and not mere objects of inanimate forces.  Keen focus will be developed around terms that denigrate Africans as a result of preconceived racist notions and terminology.
  • We will examine the ancient Egyptian State and empire, which had a peculiar impact on many other empires that came after it.  We will also attempt to use an African-Centered methodology to categorize African history.  The class will be introduced to Diop's two-cradle theory, which is a useful tool once its assumptions are understood.
  • This class will address the strengths and weaknesses of decentralization and centralization as they relate to the history of various African modes of political-social organization in their respective time/place zones.  Pan-African responses to challenges will be illuminated wherever they are found.
  • We will examine when and where internal disintegration, micro-national chauvinism, and cultural alienation led to Africa's human hemorrhage.  We will also examine the external interests, ideologies, and cultures that acerbated Africa's human hemorrhage.

WEEK 1 <INTRODUCTION>

Introduction to the course and review of the syllabus
-Discussion of syllabus and materials
-Housekeeping Issues (dates for add-drop, web address, etc.)

WEEK 2

Introduction to the course and review of the syllabus
-Pre-test and demographic survey
-Professor's background and vantage
-Discussion of syllabus and materials
-Housekeeping Issues (dates for add-drop, web address, etc.)

WEEK 3

Shillington:
Chapter 1 - Early Prehistory of Africa
Chapter 2 - Later prehistory: the development and spread of farming and pastoralism
UNESCO Vol. I - Methodology and African Prehistory

Click here for: Methodology materials and slide show

WEEK 4

  • UNESCO Vol. II - Chapter 1: Origin of Ancient Egyptians
    Accomplishments of Ancient Egyptians

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

  • Davidson Video: Caravans of Gold (segments 7 - 9)
  • Shillington:
    Chapter 7 - Islam and the Sudanic states of West Africa / Impact of the Moors
    Chapter 8 - Eastern Africa to the sixteenth century
    Chapter 9 - Trading states of the East African coast to the sixteenth century

WEEK 8

Shillington:
Chapter 7 - Islam and the Sudanic states of West Africa / Impact of the Moors
Chapter 8 - Eastern Africa to the sixteenth century
Chapter 9 - Trading states of the East African coast to the sixteenth century

WEEK 9<MIDTERM>

October 18

Shillington:
Chapter 10 - Later Iron Age states and societies of central and southern Africa to 1600 AD
Chapter 11 - North and northeast Africa to the eighteenth century

Davidson Video: The King and the City (segments 1 - 2)

WEEK 10

WEEK 11

WEEK 12

WEEK 13

Shillington:
Chapter 16 - West Africa in the nineteenth century and the ending of the slave trade
Chapter 17 - Central and East Africa in the nineteenth century

WEEK 14

WEEK 15

Shillington:
Chapter 18 - Pre-Industrial Southern Africa in the nineteenth century
Chapter 19 - North and Northeast Africa in the nineteenth century
Chapter 20 - Prelude to empire in tropical Africa
Review

WEEK 15
___________
FINALS