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Table of Contents……………………………………………………….. 2
Course Description……………………………………………………… 3
Course Objectives …….………………………………………............ 4
Unit Breakdown and Central Questions…………………………..…. 5-8
Possible Course Materials………………………………………........... 9
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M ODERN A FRICAN AND L ATIN
AMERICAN HISTORY : A
COMPARATIVE STUDY
SO0A01
Length: 1 semester
Credit: 1 credit
Open to Grades: 10-12
Grade Weight: III
Prerequisite: Global Studies
The semester will be divided into two main units: one for African history and one for Latin American/Caribbean history. Each unit will last for approximately nine weeks, comprised by a study of two to three countries in each of these two regions of the world allowing students to learn in depth about separate countries with unique histories. By examining each country as a case study, students will be able to develop important social science skills in analyzing the significance of colonialism, civil war, government corruption, environmental challenges, and economic development. Some possible African countries for study include
Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, and Sudan. For the Latin American unit, some countries to consider would be: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Haiti, Cuba, and
Jamaica.
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Course Objectives:
1.
Understand climate conditions of different regions
2.
Use different maps (land use, climate, political, population, etc.) to understand regions
3.
Understand major issues of non-western history, such as slave trade, colonialism, de-colonization, the impact of the Cold War, etc.
4.
Make comparisons between different cultures and historical events
5.
Write a coherent research paper
6.
Understand historical roots of current problems in developing nations, such as political instability, poverty, genocide, etc.
7.
Critically analyze media coverage of these regions
8.
Develop understanding of different cultures
9.
Study the history of political and economic development
10.
Independent case study/research project
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First week activities for each unit:
Geography: Countries in Africa and Latin America, examine populations (density districts), resources, regions, languages, governments, countries, capitals, landforms, etc.
Possible countries of study for Latin American unit:
Latin America- Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica
Central Questions about Latin America
*What is the standard of living in Latin America?
*What is the role of race/ethnicity in Latin America?
*What is the role of economic class in Latin America?
*Why did some countries have military coups and others not?
*What is the role of international institutions/ties/agents in the region?
* What are the economic conditions in Latin America that generate the current immigration to the US?
*What is Latin America’s future?
* What are the causes and consequences of environmental problems?
Key terms and ideas for Latin America Unit:
Dictatorship
Imperialism/neo-colonialism
Decolonization
Indigenous people
Land redistribution
Environmental concerns
Mexico (3 weeks):
*Look at ideas of race, in particular the treatment of indigenous people
*The Mexican Revolution
*Growth of nationalism
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*Immigration: both into and out of Mexico
* Relationship between the US and Mexico ( Or in former Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz words a century ago: “Poor Mexico! So far from God, and so close to the United States.”)
*War on drugs/corruption in the government
*Resistance in Chiapas
*The significance of oil and other natural resources
*Environmental concerns
*Political parties
Brazil:
*Multi-racial society/history of racial identity
*Economic inequality
*Land ownership
*Indigenous land rights
*Environmental issues from imperialism (impact on Amazon, for example)
*Slums, crime, and street children
*Military
Argentina:
*History of the military dictatorship
*The “disappeared”—political opponents and their children taken from their families
*Impact of immigration and diversity of population
*Inflation and other economic issues
*Ideas about race
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Possible countries of study for Africa unit- Nigeria, South Africa,
Rwanda, Sudan
Central Questions about Africa
*What is the standard of living in Africa? General challenges?
*Why does Africa have so many valuable resources (diamonds, gold, platinum, uranium), but in general, has the lowest standard of living for its peoples? (also – conflict/blood diamonds)
*If Africa is “so poor”, how do people survive there?
*What is the role of international institutions/ties/agents in African economic development (good/bad)?
*What pattern of independence/decolonization was followed in Africa?
What are benefits/drawbacks of becoming independent in the 1960s?
*What are the legacies of colonialism in Africa? How are they same/different?
*What is Africa’s future?
Key terms and ideas for Africa unit:
Slave trade and its legacies
Berlin Conference
Colonialism
Decolonization
World Bank
Genocide
Blood/conflict diamonds
HIV epidemic
Conservation
Nigeria:
*History of ethnic and religious conflicts
*The impact of oil and other natural resources and the resulting environmental concerns
*Dictatorship
*Economic inequality
*Significance of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria on public health
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*Impact of foreign investment, corporations, International Monetary
Fund, World Bank
South Africa:
* Apartheid, its consequences, and reconciliation
* Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress
* Economic inequality
* Significance of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria on public health
* Environmental concerns
* Concerns about land ownership
* Slums, crime, and street children
Rwanda:
* Consequences of colonialism
* Causes of genocide, lack of international involvement, and reconciliation
* Concerns about land ownership
* Environmental concerns
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Possible course materials:
King Leopold’s Ghost
In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz by Michela Wrong
The Fate of Africa
Africa: A Biography of the Continent by John Reader
Silent Revolution: The Rise and Crisis of Market Economics in Latin
America by Duncan Green
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our
Families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch
Basil Davidson video (Janet Kelsey)
Modern Latin America by Smith and Skidmore
Roots y Rebellion
Films on Latin America: Official Story, Motorcycle Diaries, Missing,
Maquilopolis (Rand says this is a GREAT documentary)
Films on Africa: Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda, Cry Freedom or Dry
White Season or Cry, Beloved Country for South Africa
Leslie Natzke from Niles West would know actual African films.
Films on Latin America: Official Story, Motorcycle Diaries, Missing,
Maquilopolis (Rand says this is a GREAT documentary)
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