Africa and the World: Ancient to Early Modern Times
This course was available in the past and may be presented again as part of the Master of Liberal Arts curriculum.
This class introduces students to ancient, medieval, and early modern African states and societies. The first half of the course focuses on ancient Egypt, empires of West Africa, the maritime worlds of the Swahili Coast, the pastoral peoples of Great Zimbabwe, and the highlands of Ethiopia. The second half of the course investigates Africa in the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We will study the history of slavery in Africa and also consider the transformations on the continent wrought by the demand in the Americas for enslaved peoples from Africa.
- Fulfills the Elective - Non-Western requirement
About the Professor
Emily Lynn Osborn
Emily Lynn Osborn is a professor in the Department of History and faculty co-chair of the Committee on African Studies. She also serves as the Faculty Director of the University of Chicago’s Study Abroad program in Senegal, West Africa. She served as the interim dean of the Graham School.