Analyze the ways in which Africans and African history have been misrepresented at different periods between 1000 and 1800. How does the actual history of Africa refute or support these interpretations by outsiders?

The authors of your textbook state that “…the politics of race and identity have long clouded our interpretation” of African history. (67) Utilizing the primary and secondary materials from THIS COURSE, identify the overriding historical trends and themes of African history from 1000-1800 CE. Incorporating evidence from Modules 3 and 4, analyze the ways in which Africans and African history have been misrepresented at different periods between 1000 and 1800. How does the actual history of Africa refute or support these interpretations by outsiders?

In general, it helps to think about the prominent themes in economic, political and socio-cultural contexts. Think about perspectives of Africans and about Africans both in and out of Africa. Be sure to utilize relevant primary andsecondary readings and videos from this course. Be sure, also, to address different geographical regions, historical periods, and topics by providing specific evidence and examples. Remember, Africa is NOT a country!

You should start by breaking down the essay prompt line by line into the main items that you should address. Those would include:

Changing Politics of Race and Identity (this could really just be an organizing statement, but it does provide a foundation from which essay is rooted: i.e., Africa does have a strong history and Africans have always had strong agency; they are not just victims and Europeans have not always oppressed them) – HOW, WHEN, and WHY did such views change from one period to the next;
To show #1, you will then discuss overriding THEMES (I suggesting identifying some aspects of economic, political, and socio-cultural issues); What are these? how did they change over time, and why?
Changing ERAS (1000-1800). I would recommend breaking these down into three: 1) Sudanic Kingdoms, 2) Early Africa-West interactions, 3) Slave Trade. For each, discuss who, what, when, how, and WHY things changed.
You also need to include a discussion of Africans IN and OUT of Africa from one era to the next. Africans in Africa, Africans in Europe, and perhaps Africans in the New World (but the latter is not a major focus of our themes).

PRIMARY DOCUMENTS –
Remember, history should unfold chronologically.
• Ethiopian Royal Chronicle
• Abu al-Bakri, The Book of Routes and Realms
• Al-Umari, Mansa Musa’s Visit to Cairo
• Ibn Battuta, A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities
• Leo Africanus, Description of Timbuktu
• Benin Images
• Nzinga Mbemba (Afonso I), Letters to the King of Portugal
• Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano
• Thomas Phillips, A Journal of a Voyage Made in the Hannibal of London in 1694
COURSE VIDEOS/IMAGES (all links in Brightspace)
• Benin Images
• Intro. to Mod 3
• Intro. to Mod 4
• The Atlantic Slave Trade: Crash Course
FILMS (all links in Brightspace)
• Caravans of Gold

• Gilbert & Reynolds, Africa in World History (Chs. 6, 7, 8, 9)
• Northrup, Africa’s Discovery of Europe – It should be obvious that this book is CENTRAL to the essay

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