African Environmental History

This seminar will be devoted to the study of the environment and power in the history of sub-Saharan Africa. The goals for this class are that you learn more about the history of Africa, about the ways that relations with the environment shaped its human history, about the construction of environmental knowledge and its repercussions, and about historical research. This course also has an applied dimension. Eight African environmental professionals visiting Brown through the Watson Scholars of the Environment (WISE) program will also participate in the class. In their final course project, students will conduct research of use to the WISE fellows on historical cases related to their training at Brown. (For more information see http://www.watsoninstitute.org/ge/watson_scholars/). This course qualifies as a capstone seminar in the history department. Enrollment limited to 20 students. Instructors permission required. Interested students should email the instructor at Nancy_Jacobs@brown.edu with a description of their interests and background.