Africa Before Colonization

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Popular perceptions of Africa are almost wholly defined by the last century and a half of its history, first under the boot of European imperial powers and then struggling to rebuild sovereignty and stability in the post-colonial world. Apart from the slave trade, most often narrated as an American story that happens to begin in Africa, little of the continent’s rich pre-modern past earns more than a passing mention in global history. This course aims to shine a spotlight on these neglected stories and examine the many contributions of Africans to the course of human history. We will begin with Africa as the ancients knew it, a land of bright sunshine, proud empires, and legendary wealth. We’ll then examine the continent’s long history of trade with the wider world, both in goods and in people. Finally, we will consider the sources of the great upheavals that swept the continent in the 19th century and how they heralded the coming of colonization. Along the way, we will work with a wide range of sources, from legends and travelogues to fiction and film, in order to better appreciate the lives and perspectives of everyday Africans.