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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ICSD016A
Course Title (CB02)
History of Africa to 1800
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course discusses the history of Africa from the Paleolithic period to 1800. The course is an interdisciplinary survey of the emergence and development of African civilizations focusing on geographical, environmental economic, social, cultural and political issues.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is intended to meet the requirement of the AA Degree/Certificate in Intercultural Studies. This course is UC and CSU transferable and also meets the general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE, CSUGE, and IGETC. This course is unique as it introduces the student to the expansive and diverse history of the continent of Africa.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Course Philosophy
It continues the Division's desire to develop socially just curriculum as part of the on-going effort to provide an academically rich, multicultural learning environment that challenges students of every background to develop their intellect, character and abilities.

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Not open to students with credit in the cross-listed course(s).)

(Also listed as HIST D016A.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class essays

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from the text, study guide, primary and secondary documents, magazines, suggested readings from supporting references, and other sources as needed
  2. Writing assignments of short essays on selected topics and prompted responses to important topics designed to evaluate student understanding of given topics. This shall be assessed via the midterm and final exam.
  3. Two research projects on a specific African country or a specific region of Africa that require the student to integrate, analyze, and synthesize a variety of materials
  4. A notebook of written summaries and visuals with accompanying case notes of a specific region of Africa that requires the student to integrate, analyze, and synthesize a variety of materials
  5. Students will have collaborative group discussions on topics relating to the course content and student learning outcomes.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes, midterm and the final will be comprised of both objective and written sections. The objective section will test the student's comprehension, understanding, and interpretation of concepts, issues, events, and problems of Africans. The essay questions will test the student's ability to assess, interpret, and synthesize important events, issues, themes, and subjects.
  2. Map quiz will allow students to demonstrate their geographical knowledge of the African continent. Students may be asked to identify various African kingdoms, regions inhabited by particular ethnic populations, and/or the evolution of Geo-political boundaries.
  3. Examinations (midterm and final) will test the student's ability to synthesize content, issues, and cross-cutting themes of the course.
  4. Research papers will be evaluated on the basis of how well the student can interpret cause and effect, compare and contrast, and support his/her conclusions.
  5. A notebook of written summaries and visuals with accompanying case notes of a specific region of Africa which will assess the students ability to integrate, analyze, and synthesize a variety of content including primary source accounts, documentaries, and secondary source materials.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Shillington, Kevin. History of Africa. 4th Edition, 2018, MacMillan.
van Sertima, Ivan, They Came Before Columbus: the African Presence in Ancient America, Random House, 2003.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Boone, Catherine. Political Topographies of the African State. NewYork: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Gailey, Harry. History of Africa Vol. I From Earliest Time to1800 2nd Edition. Malabar, Florida: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Company, 1989.
_______ History of Africa Vol. III From 1945 to present. Malabar, Florida: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Company, 1989.
*Gilbert, Erik and Jonathan T. Reynolds. Africa in World History, Upper Saddle River N.J. : Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
Hansen, Thorkild. Ships of Slaves. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. 2003.
Northrup, David. Africa's Discovery of Europe 1450 - 1850 New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Muslim societies in African History.NewYork: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Robinson, David. Muslin Societies in African History, East Lansing: Michigan State University, 2004.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Identify and understand the interdisciplinary aspects of African history to 1800.
  • Analyze the physical context of African history reflected in Africa's geography and environment.
  • Identify, categorize and share major geopolitical regions of Africa showing corresponding economies, cultural units, and world view of relevant peoples.
  • Identify ancient kingdoms of Africa and interpret the impact of each within its region.
  • Analyze and critique major movements, events, economic ventures, and political conflicts in Africa among African groups and non Africans of Europe and Asia from 1000 C.E. to 1798.
  • Examine African and European relations from the beginning of the slave trade to 1800.
  • Evaluate and summarize the intensity of European expansion in Africa.
  • Identify, compare and contrast the role of major European Monopolies and areas of African assistance and resistance during the slave trade.
  • Compare and contrast between traditional sources of African history and European history reported by explorers, settlers, missionaries, and others.
  • Assess the political and economic state of African societies and Africa's natural resources at the end of the eighteenth century.

CSLOs

  • Students will identify, critically evaluate, and interpret pre-history up to 1800 African primary documents to construct historical analysis.

  • Students will demonstrate a geographical command of the continent of Africa.

  • Students will understand the impact of pre-colonial Africa on world civilization.

Outline

  1. Identify and understand the interdisciplinary aspects of African history to 1800.
    1. Discuss the African past from an anthropological, sociological, and Africana Studies perspectives.
    2. Analyze theories of human origin in Africa.
    3. Examine varying theological vantages point of West and North African cultures.
    4. Discuss the intersectionality of religion, culture, and history upon West and North Africa
  2. Analyze the physical context of African history reflected in Africa's geography and environment.
    1. Know the geographic boundaries of all the nations in Africa
    2. Understand the ways African borders have shifted as a result of time and politics
    3. Explore the geographic locations of major ethnic population groups
  3. Identify, categorize and share major geopolitical regions of Africa showing corresponding economies, cultural units, and world view of relevant peoples.
    1. Geopolitical regions
      1. North and Northeast Africa 2000 B.C. to A.D.1000
      2. East Africa
      3. Southern Africa
      4. West Africa
      5. Central Africa
    2. Regional villages and City States
      1. Western Guinea Coast
      2. Oyo states
  4. Identify ancient kingdoms of Africa and interpret the impact of each within its region.
    1. Examine African pre-colonial exploration of the Americas and Europe
    2. Kush
    3. Nubia and Meroe
    4. Carthage and Roman Northern Africa
    5. Greek Northern Africa (Alexander the Great and Egypt)
    6. Ethiopia (the Kingdom of Axum)
    7. Zimbabwe
    8. Congo
    9. West African Empire (Ghana, Mali, and Songhay)
    10. Forest Kingdoms
    11. Egypt
  5. Analyze and critique major movements, events, economic ventures, and political conflicts in Africa among African groups and non Africans of Europe and Asia from 1000 C.E. to 1798.
    1. Expansion of Islam in North Africa
    2. The Zenj states through 1500
    3. Peoples of the Western Sudan
    4. Trans Saharan trade
    5. The kingdom of Ghana
    6. The Almoravids
    7. Mali, Songhay, and the Moroccan invasion of the Western Sudan
    8. Kanem-Bornu and the Hausa City-States
    9. The Wolof
    10. The Akan states
    11. The kingdom of Dahomey
    12. Yoruba land and Benin
    13. The Kongo Kingdom
    14. The Portuguese arrival to Africa
    15. The Dutch arrival in south Africa
  6. Examine African and European relations from the beginning of the slave trade to 1800.
    1. Elite Africans in Europe
    2. From Mutual benefit trade to enslavement
    3. Politics and religion
  7. Evaluate and summarize the intensity of European expansion in Africa.
    1. The Atlantic trade system
    2. The Portuguese trade monopoly
    3. European trade rivalry
  8. Identify, compare and contrast the role of major European Monopolies and areas of African assistance and resistance during the slave trade.
    1. Countries:
      1. Portugal
      2. Great Britain
      3. France
      4. Holland
    2. African assistance and resistance in:
      1. West Africa
      2. The Kongo Kingdom
      3. South Africa
  9. Compare and contrast between traditional sources of African history and European history reported by explorers, settlers, missionaries, and others.
    1. Prehistoric links between Europe and Africa
    2. Early historical exploration of Africa
    3. Europeans in the middle ages on Africa
    4. Portuguese expeditions and Portugal the native states of equatorial Africa
    5. Dutch intervention
  10. Assess the political and economic state of African societies and Africa's natural resources at the end of the eighteenth century.
    1. The era of the slave trade in West Africa
    2. The expanding impact of Atlantic commerce in Central Africa
    3. New pastoral and trading frontiers in Southern Africa
    4. States and stateless societies in Eastern Africa
    5. An age of political and cultural realignment in Northeastern Africa
    6. The decline of Ottoman rule in North Africa
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