HIST 565: Problems in African History

HIST 565-002: Race, Empire, and Environment: Histories of Health and Nature in Modern Africa
(Fall 2011)

07:20 PM to 10:00 PM T

Research Hall 201

Section Information for Fall 2011

While factoring the impact of racial slavery and European imperialism, a leading environmental historian claimed that modern Africa is the only continent where peasants and their lands have avoided “capture” by elites. This structural reality supposedly explained why Nature-driven crises created a path of historical development in the Sub-Saharan region that differed from Asia and the Americas. The “uncaptured peasant, uncaptured land” theory drew critics who pointed to Man-made causes of ecological calamity, particularly the extractive colonial policies that eroded soils and spread epidemics. Indeed, land-use strategies promoted by white settlers, seeking to profit from African agriculture and minerals, linked environmental efforts to the “civilizing mission,” which aimed to save a “degraded Dark Continent”; it was a case of preserving resources for the sake of exploiting resources. Soon scholars were listening for “indigenous” voices that opposed modern conservation and disease-control as imperialist ploys. Now studies explore how Africans dealt with environmental challenges by embracing a range of interventions (from local healers to Western biomedicine). Our readings engage this scholarly ferment.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Analysis of selected problems in African history. Emphasis on reading and discussion of historical interpretations and development of bibliography. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.