OVERVIEW

The course provides a basic knowledge of the history of Africa, giving the tools and knowledge necessary to be able to deal with the study of the African continent in the contemporary era.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the course is providing basic knowledge of the African historical, political, economic and social context and outlining the main problems of the countries that exemplify their position in the era of globalization, thus providing the interpretative keys for the critical reading of the most significant political and social phenomena in the context of the evolutionary dynamics of Africa.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching will be structured in frontal lessons. There will be focus on specific topics.

In particular, some issues of general importance will be analyzed: use of archives, use of oral history, role of minorities, role of religions.

Students will learn about the experiences of continuity and change of the African continent and its current positioning in the global system

There will be tests during the course in order to facilitate the students’ learning.

At the end of the course, students attending the teaching will have:

--Basic skills essential for interpreting the evolution of African societies;

--Awareness of the historical, political and economic intertwining that has affected the continent over the centuries;

--Ability to analyze complex phenomena, developing a critical approach to them;

--Theories, concepts, principles and terminology related to the study of contemporary Africa that allow for a correct argument on the history of the continent;

--Ability to analyze the role of religions and minorities;

--General understanding of written and oral sources.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal teaching will be the main teaching method used during classes, but participation will be strongly encouraged. Discussions and the analysis of cases/problems will be an integral part of the classes activities. Powerpoint presentations will be used.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course consists of two modules.

The first module deals with the main historical processes that have taken place on the continent in the contemporary era with a final focus on the new colonizations and how Africa is perceived today.

The second module will be on North Africa and its minorities.

---First module

- The slave trade;

- The Scramble for Africa;

- Colonialism;

- The colonial models;

- Other types of colonialism: Italian, Portuguese, German, Belgian and Spanish;

- Trade and migrations;

- Struggles for liberation;

- Decolonization processes;

- Post-independence development policies;

- Neocolonialism;

- The unexpected protagonists of the new policies in Africa;

- Migrations;

- Relations between Mediterranean Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa;

- Africa in the Italian press;

---Monographic module. Minorities in North Africa

- History of minorities in North Africa;

- Invasions and colonizations;

- Life of minorities;

- Colonization and decolonization;

- Minorities today.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Exam texts:

Anna Maria Medici, Arrigo Pallotti, Mario Zamponi, Contemporary Africa, Le Monnier University, 2017

For the monographic part will be proposed articles during the lessons (which will be made available to non-attending students upon request via email).

This page will be updated with the texts.

Additional reading

Chaterine Coquery-Vidrovitch, A Brief History of Africa, il Mulino, 2012

Giampaolo Calchi Novati and Pierluigi Valsecchi, Africa: the rediscovered story, Carocci editore 2005

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FILIPPO PETRUCCI (President)

DOMENICO CRISTOFARO

GURI SCHWARZ (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 9, 2024

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For students attending the lectures there will be a written test on the general module (which will be carried out at the end of the module itself) and an oral exam, on the topics of the monographic module, which will take place at the end of the course.

For NON ATTENDING students, the exam is only oral.

Attending students, if they prefer, can take the exam only orally (in this case in a single form at the end of the course).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment will be made on the basis of:

--level of competence of the fundamental notions

--critical reasoning skills

--correct use of the language of the discipline.

Exam schedule