HI177: A History of Africa from 1800
This module is an introduction to the modern social and political history of sub-Saharan Africa. You do not need to have prior knowledge of African history! The course takes a chronological approach, covering three broad periods: the nineteenth-century precolonial period, colonial rule, and the postcolonial period. Starting with a discussion of the idea of ‘Africa’, students will familiarise themselves with the changing nature of African trade and commerce after the ending of the slave trade; with the character and development of political authority in the nineteenth century; with the establishment of colonial rule through treaty and conquest; with the effects of colonialism on colonised African societies; with the growth of anti-colonial sentiments and the emergence of nationalisms; and with the impact of decolonization and the formation of postcolonial states. The final lectures and seminars will explore the nature of postcolonial African states, and include discussion of episodes of violence and of ‘development’ in Africa.
Aims and Outcomes
- Gain knowledge and understanding of key themes within African history and its historiography for the period since 1800
- Obtain an understanding of Africa’s position within global historical trends
- Develop understanding of different interdisciplinary approaches to the study of African history, including anthropology and political science
- Critically assess the worth of primary source material and different types of sources, including government documents, speeches, oral history, ethnography and visual sources
- Discuss critically and develop the ability to construct persuasive oral and written arguments in relation to the history and politics of modern Africa
Indicative readings
- Frederick Cooper, Africa since 1940: The Past of the Present (Cambridge, 2002)
- John Iliffe, Africans: The History of a Continent (Cambridge, 2007)
- Richard Reid, A History of Modern Africa: 1800 to the Present (Oxford, 2009)