Economic History of Africa

4 credits · Undergraduate

Introduction to major themes in the economic history of Africa, focused on the modern period (1500-present). Includes themes such as environmental history in Africa, technology, economic impact of the Atlantic slave trade, European colonialism, capitalism, economic institutions, informal economies, poverty, famines and debt. A second focus is on the intellectual history of economic thought in Africa, which is an area of considerable disagreement and debate. For example, the history and effects of capitalism on/in Africa is a topic of wide-ranging disagreement which carries significant political weight, and which has produced very different subject positions and experiences.