Scheda insegnamento

Prerequisiti

No specific prior knowledge is required, except for a solid understanding of modern history. Students lacking this background are encouraged to consult the suggested readings available on the LOL platform (Suggested Reading for Students Enrolled, a.y. 2025/26).

Language Requirement: A B2 level in English (as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR) is recommended. Students who may need assistance can make use of the Language Tutoring Service.

Obiettivi formativi - Risultati di apprendimento attesi

This Lab introduces students to African history, with particular focus on colonialism, decolonization, and the postcolonial condition.

By the end of the Lab, students will be able to: • Critically assess and discuss major historical events and processes, understanding the ongoing legacies of imperialism in contemporary Africa. • Analyze and interpret various types of historical sources to construct coherent arguments about Africa’s past. • Engage in theoretical debates and contribute thoughtfully to group discussions, thereby strengthening critical thinking and communication skills.

Contenuto del corso

Beginning with the concept of empire as a tool of historical analysis, the Lab explores how European colonial imperialism transformed the political and social landscapes of African societies. It examines key topics such as: • The nature of colonial states • Ecological and economic transformations • The interplay between imperialism and modernity • The decline of empires • Decolonization processes • Postcolonial legacies These themes will be explored through both general overviews and specific case studies. The course will also address relevant historiographical debates, including discussions around "globalized imperialism" and "imperialism without colonies."

Metodi didattici

Students must inform the lecturer of their attendance status (attending or non-attending) within ten days of the start of the Lab. Digital platforms such as LOL and Teams will be used to support course delivery and, if needed, facilitate remote teaching in accordance with the Degree Course Council provisions.

Attending Students: Classes are lecture-based with active participation encouraged. Seminars will be conducted with visiting scholars and guest speakers. Students are expected to engage in discussions using methods like the "think-pair-share" technique.

Non-Attending Students: Non-attending students must participate in two scheduled Seminars (details and preliminary readings available on the LOL platform) and study the assigned textbook listed below.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD): Appropriate accommodations and dispensations will be provided, based on certified documentation submitted to the Segreteria Didattica. Students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the lecturer to tailor the program to their needs, and may also contact the Commissione per le differenze e l'inclusione (differenze-inclusione@unistrapg.it).

Metodi di accertamento

Student performance will be evaluated through class participation and an oral examination. Two questions will assess students’ understanding of course topics and their ability to critically analyze them.

For students with certified SLD, assessment methods will be adjusted based on individual needs and in consultation with the Commissione per la diversità e l'inclusione.

Testi di esame

Students are required to communicate to the lecturer, within 10 days from the beginning of the Lab, whether they will be attending or not.

Full-Time (attending) Students For students regularly attending the lectures (at least 75%) a reference bibliography, materials and handouts will be provided for each topic on a weekly basis on the digital platform LOL.

Non-Attending Students Students not attending classes are required to participate in two Seminars (schedule and preliminary readings will be available on the Course online platform LOL), and to study this textbook:

• John Iliffe, Africans: The History of a Continent, Cambridge University Press 2017 (3rd edition, pages: 131-273).

Students must inform the lecturer of their attendance status within 10 days of the start of the Lab.

Attending Students Reference materials, handouts, and weekly readings will be made available on the LOL platform for each topic covered in class. A minimum attendance of 75% is required to be considered an "attending" student.

Non-Attending Students Non-attending students are required to: • Attend two Seminars (details and readings provided on LOL) • Study the following textbook: John Iliffe, Africans: The History of a Continent, Cambridge University Press, 2017 (3rd edition, pp. 201 ff)

Testi di consultazione e approfondimento

• A. G. Hopkins, Africa, Empire and World Disorder: Selected Essays, Routledge 2020
• R. J. Reid, A History of Modern Africa: 1800 to the Present, Wiley 2020 (pages 121-290).

Altre informazioni

Class attendance is required for Full-Time Students, who are invited to join the class in the first week of the course. Active engagement participation in class discussions is highly recommended. To be classified as “attending,” students must participate in at least two-thirds of the scheduled lessons.

This Lab also serves as a preparatory course for students interested in applying to the Inter-University Cooperation Double Degree Programme with Dalarna University's one-year Master’s Programme in African Studies.

Non-attending students are kindly required to contact the lecturer to confirm the schedule for the required Seminars (federica.guazzini@unistrapg.it).