Course Description
Economic, political, and cultural history of East Africa to the nineteenth century. Growth of agricultural systems, forms and functions of states and kingdoms, the world of the Indian Ocean, slavery and rebellion.
Athena Title
East Africa to 19th Century
Prerequisite
Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the history of East Africa by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of pre-modern East Africa has shaped diverse social and cultural attitudes toward race, religion, and civilization, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
Topical Outline
- c. 700: Arab and Persian traders who come to the East African coast bring Islam. Some Arab traders settle in the coastal towns. Trade in ivory, rhino horn, gold, shells and slaves make Mombasa, Malindi and the Islands Lamu, and Pate important centers of trade.
- The 15th century: The Coast is rich, and the cities are great in this period. The Africans on the coast gradually have formed the Swahili culture, adopting Islam as their religion. The common religion facilitates understanding and business with the Arabs and Persians.
- 1498: Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches East Africa with ships and guns. Until now most meetings with foreigners have been relatively peaceful, but the Portuguese are eager to get their hands on the rich trade around the Indian Ocean.
- 1505: The Portuguese invade and sack most cities on the East Coast of Africa. Dom Francisco de Almeida arrives with 23 ships and approximately 1500 soldiers. Mombasa is bombed and occupied by Portuguese troops.
- 1585 and 1589: The Ottoman Turks try to regain control of the Kenyan Coast but are beaten by the Portuguese. Portugal starts a brutal colonial rule and exploitation of the Africans and their resources. With weapons in hand, they try to convert people into Catholicism, but Islam has already grown strong on the coast.
- 1593: Mombasa becomes the local center of Portuguese power. Fort Jesus is constructed in Mombasa harbor to defend the city from the seaside and also against a growing resistance among the Swahili people.
- 1698: Fort Jesus and Mombasa are finally lost to the Arabs after 33 months of siege. After a few years the Portuguese leave Kenya completely. Arab sultans now rule over different parts of the coast.
- 1798: Napoleon invades Egypt. The occupation engenders much local resistance, and the British and Ottoman navies destroy the French fleet that brought the invasion force and prevent resupply of the French army by imposing a blockade. In 1801 the occupation collapses and the French withdraw.
