AFR 1460 - New York City College of Technology

NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

The City University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

COURSE CODE: AFR 1460 EARLY AFRICAN HISTORY

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Students in this course will study Africa’s history from antiquity to the period before the advent of colonialism. This course begins with a study of Africa as the cradle of humankind and continues through the emergence of small-scale societies and large state systems such as ancient Egypt, Nubia, the central African kingdoms and those of

Southern Africa. Emphasis is placed on understanding the way in which political developments and religious changes affected gender, class, and ethnic relations within these societies. Our fundamental aim will be to understand the contributions of Africans to world civilizations.

PREREQUISITES:

CUNY Certification in reading and writing

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of Early African History, the student should be able to:

•

Discuss the historical contributions of Africans in antiquity, late antiquity and the medieval period;

•

Demonstrate, using historical examples, the evolution of political, economic and social institutions in these ancient societies;

•

Describe the influences of ancient African cultures on other cultures in the ancient world;

•

Identify some of the major historical figures who made significant and notable contributions to ancient and medieval cultures of the African world.

ASSESSMENT TOOLS

The modes of assessment support the learning outcomes:

1.

Students will be required to complete a research project;

2.

There will be one final examination;

3.

There will be two essays;

4.

There will be a map project.

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REQUIRED TEXTS:

Joseph Harris, Africans and their History (Second Edition), Penguin Putnam Inc., New

York, NY, 1998 *

John Jackson, Introduction to African Civilization, Carol Publishing Books, 1990 *

Students should at least own copies of these books. They will be the main textbooks for the course. * The two books will be on reserve at the library

Please note : Supplementary reading materials will be provided as the course proceeds.

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS:

Martin Bernal, Black Athena Vol 1, Rutgers University Press, New Jersey, 1987

Martin Bernal, Black Athena Vol 11, Rutgers University Press, New Jersey, 1991

Basil Davidson, Africa in History (Revised and Expanded Edition), Macmillian

Publishing Company, New York, 1991

Cheikh Anta Diop, The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality, Lawrence Hill

Books, New York, 1974

Cheikh Anta Diop, Civilization or Barbarism, Lawrence Hill Books, New York, 1981

Cheikh Anta Diop, Pre-colonial Africa, Lawrence Hill Books, New York, 1987

W. E. B Dubois, The World and Africa, International Publishers Co., Inc, New York,

1965

John Iliffe, Africans: The History of a continent, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, 1996

J.C deGraft-Johnson, African Glory, Walker and Company, New York, 1954

Robert July, A History of the African People (Fifth Edition), Waveland Press Inc,

Prospect Park, IL, 1998

Elizabeth Isichei, A History of African Societies to 1870, Cambridge University Press,

Cambridge and New York, 1997

Ali Mazrui, The Africans: A Triple Heritage, BBC Publications, London, 1986

Festus Ugboaja Ohaegbulam, Towards an Understanding of the African Experience from

Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, University Press of America, 1990

Theophile Obenga Ancient Egypt and Black Africa, Karnak Press, London, 1992

Roland Oliver, The African Experience, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1991

Roland Oliver, (ed), The Dawn of African History, Oxford University Press, 1968

Ivan Van Sertima, The African Presence in Ancient America: They Came Before

Columbus, Random House, New York, 1976

Ivan Van Sertima, (ed.), Egypt Revisited, Transaction Books, New Brunswick, 1989

Grade distribution is as follows :

Class Participation

1 st

2 nd

Take Home Exams:

Take Home Exams:

Map project and quiz:

Finals (in class exams):

10%

15%

15%

20%

40%

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Policy on Incompletes:

I do not give incompletes. If you choose not to complete the class please formally withdraw from it.

Extra Credit:

At certain times I will ask students to make class presentations for extra credit. Please note that presentations for extra credit should not be seen as substitute for course work and course grade.

MAP PROJECT:

Africa: A Geographical Interpretation

Even though this is a course on early African History, I expect all students to have a basic knowledge of the geography of Modern Africa.

1) All students are to make a copy of the current map of Africa.

2) Make a list of all countries in Africa grouping them as follows:

Northern Africa

Eastern Africa

Western Africa

Central Africa

Southern Africa.

3) Provide the following information of all countries in the regional groupings:

Capital cities, vegetation and climate, natural resource, principal languages spoken.

The following references might be helpful:

Dr. Jeffress Ramsay, Global Studies: Africa (ninth edition) McGraw-Hill/Dushkin

Company, Guilford, CT, 2001

An exciting free Internet software that might be helpful is the AFRICA GEOGRAPHY

TUTOR. http://www.africaaction.org/bp/regmap.htm

Another good website is that of the Africa Policy Information Center. http://www.africaaction.org/faq/country.htm

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You may also consult the CIA website: Look for the link to the World Factbook http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

Course Requirements

Active class participation and attendance is required of all students. Students who do not attend class without valid permission or reasons may lose credit. Students are expected to understand the material, or at least have identified those items that they do not yet understand in order to ask questions in class. The instructor will assume that students know the material and are prepared to discuss it. Students are responsible for all work assigned in this class, whether or not they are present. Assignments must be completed on time. Papers submitted late will be penalized.

CLASS CONDUCT :

Students must arrive on time, in order to fully participate and receive full credit for attending the class session. If lateness is unavoidable, the student is welcome to join the class, but he/she is expected not to disrupt the session already in progress. Students must turn off cell phones, beepers, and other electronic devices before class begins. No one is allowed to wear headphones in class. No one is allowed to eat in class.

Please note plagiarism is the act of taking someone else’s words and passing them off as your own. IT IS A FORM OF CHEATING! IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

Students are expected to observe normal courtesy in class. They are expected to pay attention to the instructor, take detailed notes, refrain from personal conversations, and avoid any other behavior, which is disruptive and disturbing to others. A student who does not observe these courtesies may be asked to leave the room.

Exams

There will be two mid-term (take home) exams, a map project and a final. The mid-term exams and finals will be short essay questions. All your essays will be evaluated on clarity and preciseness of argument, use of data/evidence to support argument, and grammar/spelling. Therefore be sure to proofread your copy very carefully and several times before you turn it in; bad grammar, spelling and syntax will count against you.

Historians must write proper English. You should also adhere to proper methods of citations in your essay.

Map Quiz of African Countries . You must learn the names of all African Countries and demonstrate your knowledge by naming them all on a map quiz of African countries.

You will be required to correctly spell and place those countries on a blank map. The quiz will be announced in class a full week or more before they are administered.

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CLASS SCHEDULE:

Week 1: Introduction to major themes of the course

* Joseph Harris, Africans and their History (Second Edition), Penguin Putnam Inc., New

York, NY, 1998, pp.1-19

*John Jackson, Introduction to African Civilization, Carol Publishing Books, 1990, pp. 3-35 ( This is the introductory essay to Jackson’s Book by John Henrik Clarke )

John Henry Clarke, Why Africana History? The Black Collegian Magazine, 1997, See also, http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/blpr/clarke.html

. See also, African American

Chronicle, African American Studies Departmental Newsletter, New York City

Technical College, Summer 2001

Supplementary Readings

Boniface Obichere, “African History and Western Civilization,” in Floyd W. Hayes III

(ed) A Turbulent Voyage: Readings in African American Studies (3 rd

Edition), Collegiate

Press, pp.45-56


Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, University Press of America, 1990, pp.1-21

David Hume, “Of National Characters”, in Vernon D. Johnson and Bill Lyne (ed)

Walkin’ The Talk: An Anthology of Africa American Studies, Prentice Hall, Upper

Saddle River, NJ, 2003, 49-51

Immanuel Kant, “On National Characteristics” in Vernon D. Johnson and Bill Lyne (ed)

Walkin’ The Talk: An Anthology of Africa American Studies, Prentice Hall, Upper

Saddle River, NJ, 2003, 52-53

Ivor Wilks, “African Historiographical Traditions, Old and New” in J.D Fage (ed) Africa

Discovers Her Past, Oxford University Press, London, 1970

What is the relevance of studying early African History?

Week 2: A documentary on the evolution of humans: Journey of Man by Spencer

Wells

Week 3:

Africa and the Origin of Humankind

*Joseph Harris, Africans and their History (Second Edition), Penguin Putnam Inc., New

York, NY, 1998, Chapter 2

*John Jackson, Introduction to African Civilization, Carol Publishing Books, 1990,

Chapter 1

*Cheikh Anta Diop, Civilization or Barbarism, Lawrence Hill Books, Brooklyn, NY,

1991, p.25-68

Supplementary Reading

Ali Mazrui, The Africans: A Triple Heritage, BBC Publications, London, 1986, Chapt.2



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Reader’s Digest, The story of Mankind: The Earth, Its Wonders, Its Secrets, The

Reader’s Digest Association Ltd, London, 1998

Note: There are tons of websites analyzing various forms of evidence about the claims on

Africa as the cradle of Humankind. Students are encouraged to explore the various arguments on this complex issue. Pay attention to the Monogenetic and Polygenetic thesis on the origins of Humankind: See for example: The story of Africa: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/2chapter1.shtml

and http://www.becominghuman.com

Is Africa truly the cradle of Humankind?

ANCIENT AFRICAN CIVILIZATION, THE EARLY KINGDOMS AND CITY STATES

Week 4: The Nile Valley Civilization

Egypt and the Evolution of Civilization


Chapter 3


York, NY, 1998, pp.33-48 (Read section on Egypt)

*Ivan Van Sertima, (ed.), Egypt Revisited, Transaction Books, New Brunswick, 1989

(Chapter to be specified) [On reserve]

Supplementary Reading

Basil Davidson, Africa in History (Revised and Expanded Edition), Macmillan

Publishing Company, New York, 1991, Chapter 2

W. E. B Dubois, The World and Africa, International Publishers Co., Inc, New York,

1965, pp.98-114



Who are the early ancient Egyptians? Were they Africans or Asians? Discuss the

Egyptian contribution to human civilization

Week 5*: NUBIA: The Black kingdom of the Nile

*(First take home exams)

NUBIA: The Black kingdoms of the Nile

Documentary by Henry Louis Gate: Wonders of the African World

Internet sources on the documentary is available at the following website : http://www.pbs.org/wonders/fr_e1.htm

Note: I expect all students to write a 2-3 page reaction paper to this documentary

Week 6: NUBIA: The Black kingdoms of the Nile


York, NY, 1998, pp.33-48 (Read sections on Kush/Nubia)

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*Henry Louis Gates, Wonders of the African World, Knopf Publishers, 2001 (Read the section on Nubia) [On reserve]

Supplementary Readings :

Robert Morkot, The Black Pharaohs: Egypt’s Nubian Rulers, The Rubicon Press, London

2000




Publishing Company, New York, 1991, pp.34-49

Using the capitals of Napata and Meroe discuss the significance of the Nubia to African

Civilization

Week 7: Axum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity

AXUM: Documentary by Henry Louis Gates: The Holy Land

Note: I expect students to write a 2-3 pages reaction paper.

Stuart Munro-Hay, Aksum An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity, 1991 [On Line

Version] http://users.vnet.net/alight/aksum/mhak1.html

Read Chapters 2, 8 and 9.

Week 8: AXUM

Stuart Munro-Hay, Aksum An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity, 1991 [On Line

Version] http://users.vnet.net/alight/aksum/mhak1.html

Read Chapters 10, 12 & 15


York, NY, 1998, pp.33-48 (Read section on Axum)

How do you account for the rise of the Axumite civilization?

The Golden Age of West Africa

Week 9:

Documentary: The Road to Timbuktu by Henry Louis Gates

Note: I expect a 2-3 page reaction paper

Week10:

The Kingdom of Ancient Ghana


York, NY, 1998, pp. 49-64

John Jackson, Introduction to African Civilization, Carol Publishing Books, 1990,

Chapter 5

Daniel Chu and Elliot Skinner, A Glorious Age in Africa, Zenith Books, New York, 1965

(Read Section on Ancient Ghana)

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Discuss the factors that made Ancient Ghana a great kingdom in the Medieval era

Week 11: The Mandingo Kingdom of Mali

John Jackson, Introduction to African Civilization, Carol Publishing Books, 1990, p.207-

212


(Read the section on Mali)

Week 12: The Songhai Empire

John Jackson, Introduction to African Civilization, Carol Publishing Books, 1990, p212-

218


(Read the section on Songhai)

Discuss the political, social and economic structures of the Empire States of West Africa

Week 13: Africa and the Civilizing of Europe: The Empire of the Moors


Chapter 4

*Ivan Van Sertima (ed) Golden Age of the Moor , Transaction Publishers New Brunswick and London (Selected chapters to be specified)

See the following website for articles on Moorish influence in Europe: http://www.xmission.com/~dderhak/index/moors.htm

Who are the Moors and how did they contribute to civilization in Europe

Week 14: Africa and the Discovery of Americas


Chapter 6

Paul Barton, Black Civilizations of Ancient America (Muulan), Mexico XI) http://www.raceandhistory.com/historicalviews/ancientamerica.htm

Ivan Van Sertima, The African Presence in Ancient America: They Came Before

Columbus, (Selected Chapters)

*Handouts to be provided in class

Supplementary Reading

Ivan Van Sertima, Early America Revisited, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick,

1998

Critically discuss the available evidence that either validates or challenges the claim that

Africans were in the Americas in ancient times.

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Week 15: Ancient Lost Cities and the Kingdoms of the Interior: Central and

Southern Africa Civilization


York, NY, 1998, pp. 145-156


Chapter 8


Publishing Company, New York, 1991, Chapter 4

What made the Kongo, Zimbabwe, and Monomotapa great kingdoms? Discuss the achievements of Chaka the Zulu

Week 16: Marines and Merchants of the Eastern Coast


Chapter 7

Week 14: The Destruction of African Culture


Chapter 9

Week 15: Review and Final Exams

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AFR 1460 - New York City College of Technology

NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

The City University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

2) Make a list of all countries in Africa grouping them as follows:

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AFR 1460 - New York City College of Technology

NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

The City University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

2) Make a list of all countries in Africa grouping them as follows:

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