African History

ESSAY Due on 10/30 Write a critical essay 2-3 pages in length that includes discussion of:  ONE (1) OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSE THEMES: The Science of Africa, Africa and Antiquity (Nubia/Kush, Axum/Ethiopia), West and Central Sudanic Africa 2. THREE (3) OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SOURCES: Saartjie Baartman (Venus Hottenot), Herodotus, Cheikh Anta Diop, AMENHOTEP IV and the Hymn To Aten, Cleopatra, Candace-Pseudo-Casllisthenes, Piye, Perisplus of the Erythraean, Comas Indicopleutes, King Ezana Conquest Stone, “Ezana’s Conversion”-article, Mali(Battuta and Niane), L.Kabba-Son Dogon Creation Narrative, Idris Alawma-Kanem Bornu, Wilhem Bosman, “There is no Africa in African Studies”-article, Basil Davidson, 3. TWO (2) OR MORE EXAMPLES FROM LECTURE, DISCUSSION, IMAGE OR FILM:The Real Eve: Discovery Channel, 2002-intro clip, First Peoples: Africa Episode 2 PBS (AmazonPrime), The Origin of Aids-selected scenes, Africa’s Great Civilization: Origins,The Cross and The Crescent, Empires of Gold, Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Nubia BBC, Dr. CaselyHayford, Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Ethiopia BBC, Dr. Casely-Hayford, Wonders of Africa, Road to Timbuktu, A. Ortelius “Periplus Map” 1597, Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture, and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa: Suggested hypothetical prompts for writing the essay. Pick one (or create your own): 1. Have outside depictions invalidated indigenous matrilineal ideas of womanhood? How is gender demonstrated in African history and culture? How is this noted in your selected course theme(s), readings (primary sources, assigned readings), lecture, image or film? 2. Define one or more interdisciplinary approaches to the study of African culture and history. How have these new approaches “swept away old myths and established some new truths?” How are they applicable to your selected course theme(s), readings (primary sources, assigned readings), lecture or film?  3. How do Nubia/Kush and Axum/Ethiopia refute the notion of “Hams Curse?” How is this related to Diop’s “extraordinary vitality and vigor of Black African culture”? How is this discussion applicable to your selected course theme(s), readings (primary sources, assigned readings), lecture, image or film? 4. Do you agree that African spiritualties and beliefs (e.g. Axumite (e.g. Ezana), Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Nubian, Egyptian and Dogon beliefs) are both monotheistic and polytheistic? How is this notable in your selected course theme(s), readings (primary sources, assigned readings), lecture, image or film?