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Academic Year 2005/2006

Islam in Africa
HIST 293 SP

This lecture course examines the historical, religious, and cultural aspects of the expansion of Islam in Africa. While trade networks extending from north of the Sahara are an undeniable part of the diffusion of Muslim religious practices, this course also examines other factors that facilitated and hindered the spread of Islam in Africa including indigenous religion, gender ideologies, politics and European colonialism. In order to see the expansion of Islam in Africa through all these themes and perspectives, this course use primary sources scholarly texts and novels covering all regions of the continent.

MAJOR READINGS

Robinson, MUSLIM SOCIETIES IN AFRICAN HISTORY
Hamdun and King, IBN BATTUTA IN BLACK AFRICA
Boyd and Mack, ONE WOMAN'S JIHAD: NANA ASMA'U, SCHOLAR AND SCRIBE
Searing, GOD ALONE IS KING: ISLAM AND EMANCIPATION IN SENEGAL 1859-1914
Middleton, THE WORLD OF SWAHILI
Ba, SO LONG A LETTER
Ben Jalloum, SAND CHILD
Kepel, JIHAD: THE TRAIL OF POLITICAL ISLAM

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

2 short papers, midterm, final

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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