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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ICSD016B
Course Title (CB02)
History of Africa from 1800 to the Present
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course studies African history in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The course focuses the implications of European expansion into Africa, the emergence of African nationalist movements, the establishment of independent African nations, and African nations post-colonization.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is intended to meet the requirement of the AA Degree/Certificates in Intercultural Studies. This course also meets the general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE, CSUGE, and IGETC. This course is UC and CSU transferable. This course continues the examination of the vast 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 D016B.)

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

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Required reading assignments from the text
  2. Written assignments which will include a research paper which will critically assess the role and contributions of significant personalities or critically analyze various events or developments.
  3. 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 Africans are experiencing today. The essay questions will test the student's ability to assess, interpret, and synthesize important events, issues, themes, personalities, and subjects.
  4. Students will have collaborative group discussions on topics relating to the course content and student learning outcomes.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Map quiz to test students geographical knowledge. Students may be asked to identify present day national boundaries, regions inhabited by particular ethnic populations, and/or the evolution of Geo-political boundaries as a result of colonization.
  2. Two midterms and a final examination with an objective and essay section. The objective section will test the student's comprehension, understanding and interpretation of concepts, issues, events and problems of Africa. The essay questions will test the student's ability to assess, interpret, and synthesize important events, issues, and personalities.
  3. The research paper will be evaluated on the basis of how well the student can interpret cause and effect, compare and contrast, synthesize material, and support his/her conclusions.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

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

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Boone, Catherine. Political Topographies of the African State. NewYork: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Gailey, Harry. History of Africa Vol. II From 1800 to 1945. 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, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012.
Mackinnon, Aran S.. The Making of South Africa. Culture and Politics, 2nd ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Greenwich, Conn. : Fawcett Publications, 1959.
______. No Longer at Ease. Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications Third Edition,1969.
Ajayi, J. F. Ade, and Michael Crowder. History of West Africa. Nwq York. Columbia University Press, 1973.
_______, and Robert Smith Yoruba. Warfare in the 19th Century London: Cambridge University Press, 1971.
Appiah, Anthony Kwame and Henry Louis Gates, Ed. Aricana The Encyclopedia of African and African American Experiences. New York: Basic Civitas Books, 1999.
Betts, Raymomd F. Ed. The Scramble for Africa Causes and Dimensions of Empire Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company, 1966.
Benson, Mary. Nelson Mandela. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1986.
Biobaku, S. O. The Origin of the Yoruba. Lagos Nigeria: University of Lagos 1971.
Boahen, Adu A. Cambridge History of Africa. Vols I, II, III, IV, and V., 1980.
Boone, Catherine. Political Topographies of the African State. NewYork: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Chu, Daniel and Elliot Skinner. A Glorious Age in Africa. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1990.
Davidson, Basil. Africa in History Revised Edition. New York: Macmillan, 1968.
Egharevba, Jacob U. A Short History of Benin. Ibadan: Nigeria: Ibaban University Press. 1968.
Emecheta, Buchi. Second Class Citizen. New York: George Braziller, 1975.
_______. The Bride Price. New York: George Braziller, 1976.
Gann, L, and P. Duignan. Colonialism in Africa. Stanford: Hoover Institute,1975.
Heignz, G. and H. Donnay Lumumba: the Last Fifty Days. New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1969.
Kamsrck, Andrew M. The Economics of African Development Secon Edition. New York 1972.
Little, Kenneth. African Women in Towns An Aspect of Africa's Social Revolution. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1973.
Mackinnon, Aran S. The Makings of South Africa Culture and Politics. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
Maquard, Leo. The Peoples and Policies of South Africa. New York: Oxford University Press, 1969.
Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir Boy. New York: Signet, 1989.
Nkrumah, Kwame. Africa Must Unite. New York: International Publishers, 1963.
Northrup, David. Africa's Discovery of Europe 1450 - 1850 New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Shaw, Thurston. Nigeria: Its Archaeology and Early Hisrory. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd. 1978.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Analyze and synthesize how knowledge of the past contributes to understanding and addressing African and non-African relations from the middle of the slave trade to the scramble for Africa and beyond.
  • Examine and explore the discipline of history with an analysis and appraisal of the role and status of Africa on the continent and globally in 1800.
  • Comprehend the character of history as a discipline and critically scrutinize sources in methods of interpreting information.
  • Examine and analyze European attitude and interest in various regions of Africa from a geopolitical standpoint in early 1800.
  • Examine and evaluate the impact of major historical events, issues and developments in various regions of Africa.
  • Examine and interpret African tradition and European changes since 1800.
  • Analyze and explain controversial historical issues of Central and East Africa 1800 to 1880.
  • Examine areas of conflict, commerce, and colonization among Arabs, Africans, and Europeans since 1800.
  • Examine, analyze, and summarize past and present relations between various African groups and Europeans in southern Africa since 1800.
  • Investigate the pros and cons of the cause and effect of European colonization of Africa.
  • Analyze the era of de-colonization and independence since 1945.
  • Assess and analyze the key social, political, and environmental questions, problems and issues impacting people living on the continent of Africa today; with particular attention to the social dynamics of race, gender, sexuality, age, and class.

CSLOs

  • Students will demonstrate and apply knowledge of 19th, 20th, and 21st century African history to construct defensible statements of meaning and evaluation about this period's developments.

  • Students will identify, critically evaluate, and interpret 19th, 20th, ad 21st century African primary documents to construct historical analysis.

Outline

  1. Analyze and synthesize how knowledge of the past contributes to understanding and addressing African and non-African relations from the middle of the slave trade to the scramble for Africa and beyond.
    1. West African states and societies
      1. Diverse peoples
      2. Diverse customs and traditions
      3. Social stratification
    2. The decline and loss of African city states and empires
    3. European trading companies in West and West Central Africa
    4. The impact of European explorations in Central Africa 1800 to 1880
    5. Nineteenth century and twentieth century Southern Africa to 1872
    6. East Africa and the Swahili Coast 1800 to 1880
    7. North Africa and the Sudan from1800 to 1880
  2. Examine and explore the discipline of history with an analysis and appraisal of the role and status of Africa on the continent and globally in 1800.
    1. Land
    2. Peoples
    3. Natural resources
    4. Economic policies
    5. Social and political factors
  3. Comprehend the character of history as a discipline and critically scrutinize sources in methods of interpreting information.
    1. Compare and contrast interdisciplinary sources on pre and post 1800 Africa
      1. West Africa
      2. Central Africa
      3. South Africa
      4. East Africa
      5. North Africa
    2. Research and write a definitive paper on a selected country such as:
      1. Nigeria (West Africa)
      2. Democratic Rep of the Congo (Central Africa)
      3. South Africa
      4. Kenya (East Africa
  4. Examine and analyze European attitude and interest in various regions of Africa from a geopolitical standpoint in early 1800.
    1. Britain and the suppression of Slave trade in the Indian Ocean
    2. Explorers, missionaries and, traders
      1. West Africa
      2. Central Africa
      3. South Africa
      4. East Africa
      5. North Africa
    3. The impact of the discovery of diamonds in the Orange Free State and gold in the Transvaal
    4. French Invasion of Algeria
    5. Invasion and reform in Egypt
  5. Examine and evaluate the impact of major historical events, issues and developments in various regions of Africa.
    1. Northern Africa:
      1. Egypt and the Ottoman Empire
      2. Napoleon in Egypt: Imperialism or ethnocentrism
      3. The Ottoman Viceroys in Egypt
      4. The rise of Muslim nationalism
    2. West Africa:
      1. Trade and Exploration along the Niger
      2. Freetown, Liberia and the Gold Coast
      3. Oyo and the Yoruba States
      4. British and French Territorial interests
      5. The scramble and the beginning of effective occupation
      6. The Berlin Conference
      7. Colonization
      8. World War I
    3. Central and East Africa
      1. The Omani Empire in East Africa
      2. The British Suppression of the Indian Ocean slave Trade
      3. The Congo Basin and European explorers and missionaries
      4. Native conflicts and subsequent European takeover
      5. German explorations in East Africa
      6. East Africa after the "Scramble"
      7. Colonization
    4. South Africa
      1. The Zulu nation and the Mfecane
      2. Shaka and the Zulu nation
      3. The Boer Khoikhoi and Xhosa wars
      4. The British and the Boer
      5. The formation of the South African Republic
  6. Examine and interpret African tradition and European changes since 1800.
    1. Religion
    2. Trade
    3. Politics
    4. Colonization
    5. World War I
    6. The Interwar years
    7. African Independence
  7. Analyze and explain controversial historical issues of Central and East Africa 1800 to 1880.
    1. The role of African Middlemen in the slave trade
    2. Missionaries and Christianity in the Congo Basin
    3. Explorations and the seizing of power by King Leopold II
  8. Examine areas of conflict, commerce, and colonization among Arabs, Africans, and Europeans since 1800.
    1. The Oman capital moves to Zanzibar
    2. Cloves, Ivory and slave trading
    3. Economic advantage of acquiring African land
    4. Quest for racial superiority
    5. Britain and the suppression of the Indian Ocean slave trade
    6. Portuguese and Omani dominance
    7. The development of Kenya
    8. Uganda and the impact of the Amin Government
    9. Tanzania and the promise of Eastern Africa
    10. The Mau Mau uprising and resistance to colonialism
    11. The rise of Jomo Kenyatta
  9. Examine, analyze, and summarize past and present relations between various African groups and Europeans in southern Africa since 1800.
    1. The disappearance of the Khoikhoi as an independent people
    2. The rise of Oppressive laws
      1. The Glen Grey Act 1896
      2. The Mines and Works Act 1911
      3. The Natives Land Act 1913
      4. The Urban Areas and Group Areas Act 1923
    3. Extracting raw materials - railroads and rivers
    4. The influence of Christian missionaries, and European education
    5. Destruction of traditional family values
    6. Direct rule, assimilation, and indirect rule
    7. World War I and Colonial rule
  10. Investigate the pros and cons of the cause and effect of European colonization of Africa.
    1. A European power struggle
    2. The Berlin Conference
    3. Private charter companies
      1. Goldie's Royal Niger Company
      2. Rhodes' South Africa Company
  11. Analyze the era of de-colonization and independence since 1945.
    1. African demand for political incorporation in colonial system
    2. Emergence of Western education and African Elites
    3. Independence
    4. Apartheid in South Africa
    5. Political change and conflicts during post independence
    6. Western exportation of Africa's natural resource
    7. Africa and the West's export import history
  12. Assess and analyze the key social, political, and environmental questions, problems and issues impacting people living on the continent of Africa today; with particular attention to the social dynamics of race, gender, sexuality, age, and class.
    1. Conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone
    2. Apartheid Laws
      1. The Industrial Conciliation Acts 1924 and 1937
      2. Urban Areas Act 1945 Native Laws Act 1945
      3. Group Areas Act (The Ghetto Act) 1950
    3. Nelson Mandela
    4. Conflict in Somalia
    5. The Rwandan Genocide
    6. Civil War in Sudan
    7. Intercontinental health problems
    8. Problems of HIV and AIDS
    9. Modern medicine vs. traditional beliefs and institutions
    10. Labor issues and gender roles
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