Africa and the Slave Trades (HIST*4100)

Code and section: HIST*4100*01

Term: Winter 2027

Details

Course Description: 

This course will run as a series of seminars and discussions that examine the nature of slavery and slave trade in Africa before the 19th century. Using select secondary and primary sources, the course will explore key topics and debates in the history and historiography of slavery, the slave trades, and abolition in Africa up until the 19th century. Was slavery and slave trade in Africa of some essential characteristics similar or different from the famous Atlantic slavery? What were the origins of slavery in Africa? How did Islam and Christianity, gender, firearms, and state formation processes, and 19th century European imperialist intrusion impact on and were impacted by slavery and slave trades in Africa before and up to the 19th century. These and other topics will be the subject of our seminar discussions during the semester.

Methods of Evaluation and Weights:

60%: Seminar presentation and discussion    

• Pre-class preparation and posting of seminar prep paper to Courselink - 25%
• Seminar presentation and discussion - 25%
• class participation - 10%

40%: Final essay project based on assigned primary source documents  

Learning Outcomes:

1. identify and explain the major topics and controversies in the study of the history of slavery and the slave trades in Africa.
2. identify key primary and secondary sources relevant to the study of slavery and the slave trades in Africa
3. assess the strengths and weaknesses of principal source evidence for the study of slavery and the slave trades in Africa 
4. use relevant primary source evidence on slavery in Africa in historiographical analysis.
5. organize scholarly evidence and effectively present views orally as well as in writing in formal setting and informal.
6. fulfil the role of the professional historian by preparing for and writing a final history project requiring a successful search for, selection, and interpretation of relevant primary and secondary source evidence.

Texts and/or Resources Required:

• Textbooks available from the University of Guelph Bookstore.
• Primary source documents available online as open access or will be supplied

*Please note: This is a preliminary web course description only. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description. The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.

**Please login to WebAdvisor, once the course schedule goes live, for instructor and room information.