History 331: Cultures and National Identity in African History
Fall, 2009 Tu and Thur 1:15-3:05 Blanchard 324
Dr. Charles Weber
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on the development of select African societies from their early institutional and
cultural traditions to the present with emphasis on the themes of the impact of Islam, European
colonial influences, national independence movements, and contemporary African society.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the completion of this class students will know and/or be able to:
1. Understand and appreciate the heritage and tradition of African societies and their cultural
distinctions.
2. Identify the major regions in Africa and distinguish their historical and cultural traditions.
3. Explain the cultural, political, social, and economic development of contemporary African societies
and the issues confronting the continent today.
4. Explain the presence and role of the Christian church and missions in Africa and Christianity’s
impact on African society and culture.
5. Identify significant persons, events, materials, movements, ideas, and trends that have shaped the
history of Africa and how these factors have caused cultural and societal change.
6. Develop skill in the use of historical, geographical and social science research, analysis, and
interpretation in the study of primary and secondary source materials concerning Africa.
7. Compare the Christian world view with that of the various traditional African societies/cultures.
8. Use critical thinking skills to appraise current African institutions and events so as to relate the
continent’s history to contemporary Africa.
9. Identify and explain the major issues and problems in the scholarship of African history.
REQUIRED TEXTS
April A. Gordon and Donald L. Gordon, eds., Understanding Contemporary Africa (Fourth Edition, 2007).
[Abbreviated G/G.] Plus Patrick Furlong’s chapter on South Africa from the third edition on the
instructor’s web site.
Mark Shaw, The Kingdom of God in Africa: A Short History of African Christianity (1996, reprint 2007).
D. T. Niane, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali (2006, revised edition).
Chinua Achebe, No Longer At Ease (1960).
Desmond Mpilo Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness (1999).
Isak Dinesen, Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass (1988).
History 331, Fall, 2009
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OFFICE HOURS
See hours posted on office door for each week, Blanchard 208, usually Mon. and Fri. early afternoons,
Wed. late mornings and late Tues. afternoon. No advance appointment needed. Phone: 630-752-5863.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
1. Class time is intended to help organize, supplement and amplify the assigned readings for the topic
as well as offer opportunity for discussion and other kinds of interaction; therefore familiarity with
the reading assignment in preparation for class is expected.
2. This course includes various videos designed to illustrate course themes. These are an
integral part of the class material and are intended to give more direct exposure to the societies
under study. Material from them is included on tests.
3. There will be three exams (Oct.1, Nov. 12 and Dec. 17)--one after each two units of course
material. Quizzes or other assignments such as take-home essays will be given on each assigned
monograph.
4. Each student will do a term project consisting of putting a primary source (such as a letter,
document, personal account, video, etc.) into its historical context. The primary source must be
directly related to course material and must be properly edited by explaining surrounding
circumstances and historical context as well as identifying people and places in the chosen
document. More information will be given later on the details of this assignment along with a
suggested list of primary documents from the Billy Graham Center Archives and other sources.
All documents must be directly related to material covered in the reading and/or lectures for the
course and provide insight to an important aspect of African history. The document should be
selected by October 22. The final paper is due December 4 (Friday) at 4:00 p.m. in the History
department office and should be at least 2,000 words (about 8 double-spaced pages) with proper
citations in footnotes and bibliography.
Alternative: Another approach to the course project, is to research a biographical study of a person
significant in Africa’s political, religious, or cultural history—ancient or modern. The study of this
person must include a primary source and related secondary and critical resources. It should be 810 pages plus footnotes and bibliography in the specified format.
Each paper must conform to History Dept. guidelines and have proper citations for footnotes and
bibliography using the format in either A Pocket Guide to Writing in History by Mary Rampolla, or
Perrin’s Pocket Guide to The Chicago Manual of Style both of which generally conform to the
Chicago Manual of Style (not social science or MLA).
Please note for History majors: Those enrolled under the 2003-04 catalog (or later) will be
required to submit a junior research paper as part of their major requirements. Completion of this
paper will be an option within the context of each upper division course offered by the department.
If you would like to do your junior research paper in this course, please see the instructor before
the end of the second week of the course with a proposal for the paper and how it will conform to
the departmental guidelines for the junior research paper. It is expected that you will meet with the
instructor prior to submitting your proposal. No proposals accepted after the fourth week of the
semester. This paper will serve as this course’s term project.
5. In determining one's grade for the course the following weighting will be given: the three exams
combined (covering lectures, reading, videos, etc.) = 60%; quizzes and essays on supplemental
reading and other class assignments = 20%; term project = 20%. Class participation and regular,
on-time class attendance is expected and may raise or lower one’s final grade. Absences or
tardiness will lower the final course grade. In the event of four consecutive absences and/or six
total absences a person will be asked to drop the course.
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6. This course contains numerous due dates for various tests, papers, and quizzes. These are crucial
and must be rigorously observed for full credit without reduction. Only the instructor's consent
given 24 hours in advance and for a valid reason will be acceptable for missing any of these due
dates. Make-ups, if approved, consist of written essays.
7. Classroom courtesy. In order to encourage a learning atmosphere in a large class which shows
courtesy to both students and instructor and which minimizes distractions, the following
procedures will be followed: (a) the classroom is not a lunchroom and therefore snacks and meals
should be eaten before or after class or during break, but not during the class itself; (b) beverages
may be consumed during class, but containers should be opened before class and not during class;
(c) class will begin promptly at the scheduled time and in order not to disrupt class members while
the class is in session, once the door is closed latecomers will be asked to remain outside the
classroom until the break time or until invited to enter the classroom by the instructor; (d) if a
person needs to leave the classroom early it is appropriate to inform the instructor in advance and
to sit near the door. These procedures are designed to make the classroom environment as
equitable and pleasant as possible for all involved.
8. Students may be asked to review and report on videos, pertinent articles or web sites and
evaluation of these will be included in the supplemental reading portion of the course grade.
9. Extensive study guides for all reading assignments are available and should be used to guide one
to the most important material in the reading. A set of these study guides is on reserve in Buswell
and also may be accessed on the instructor’s web site: http://www.wheaton.edu/history/weberc . It
is strongly suggested that a copy of these guides is made immediately.
10. Additions or corrections to this syllabus may be made in class during the semester. Certain current
reports or articles may be assigned in order to highlight present circumstances.
OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS
I. Introduction to the Traditional African Experience (Aug. 27, Sept. 1, and 3)
Gordon and Gordon (G/G), pp. 1-22, 25b-30a, 265-267, 271b-280a, 284b-288
II. Northern Africa and the Impact of Islam (Sept. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 and 24)
Africa and the Classical World
The Spread and Influence of Islam in Africa
The Western Sudanic Empires
Islamic Africa and the Modern World
G/G, pp. 31b-36a, 109-111, 317-328a, 337-347, 352-358a
Shaw, pp. 11-59 [Christianity in the Nile Valley and North Africa] (essay due on Sept. 10)
Niane, Sundiata (quiz on Sept. 17)
Shaw, pp. 61-90 [Christianity in Ethiopia/Nubia and relations with Islam] (quiz on Sept. 22)
* EXAM ON UNITS I and II ON OCT.1
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III. Sub-Saharan West Africa (September 29, October 6, 8, 13, 15, and 22)
Pre-European States and the Bantu Expansion
European Contacts and the Slave Trade
Partition and Colonial Administration
G/G, pp. 30b-31a, 37b-38a, 39b-40a, 41-53, 57-64a, 112-114a; 203-230, 293-313,
328b-335a; 368-371a.
Achebe, No Longer at Ease (quiz on Oct. 15)
Shaw, pp. 107-158, 205-238 [Missions and Colonialism] (quiz on October 27)
New York Times article
[Project proposal due Oct. 22]
IV. Southern Africa (Oct. 27, 29, Nov. 3, 5, and 10)
Early Settlement Patterns
European Settlement and Colonialism
Crises in the Twentieth Century
Gordon and Gordon, pp. 37-41a
Patrick Furlong’s chapter on South Africa in Gordon and Gordon’s Understanding
Contemporary Africa (third edition, 2001), pp. 371-402, on prof’s web site.
Shaw, pp. 159-180 (essay due on Nov. 3)
Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness (quiz on Nov. 10)
* EXAM ON UNITS III and IV ON NOVEMBER 12.
V. Eastern Africa (Nov. 17, 19, 24, Dec. 1 and 3)
Early Settlement
The Coast and the Indian Ocean Trading System
European Colonialism and the Independence Movements
Gordon and Gordon, pp. 33b-41a, 51-54, 60-102; 335-337a (some overlap with previous
assigned reading in preceding sections)
Shaw, pp. 181-202, 239-257 (quiz on Nov. 19)
Dinesen, Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass (essay due on Nov. 24)
VI. Conclusion: Africa Today (December 8 and 10)
African Nationalism and Decolonization
Political, Economic and Social Developments
Issues Facing Modern Africa
Gordon and Gordon, pp. 114-150, 155-194, 397-413 (for this reading especially emphasize
study-guide questions)
Shaw, pp. 259-298
TERM PROJECT DUE DECEMBER 4 (Friday) by 4:00 PM in the History Department office.
* EXAM ON UNITS V AND VI, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1:30 P.M.