CLS 130 - African Cultures

1. Define the term, “Africa,” and explain the historic and sociocultural origins of the term and its limitations.
2. Define the term, “culture,” and explain how the concept of culture applies to Africa.
3. Explain why it is important to understand the history and culture of Africa.
4. Identify and describe the main component regions of Africa (e.g., North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa).
5. Provide specific examples of Africa’s historical development and its influence on human behavior in the contemporary era.
6. Describe the diverse sociocultural and demographic attributes of Africa its major sub-regions of North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa.
   • Summarize the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of Africa.
   • Describe the religious diversity of Africa, including the role of religion and the impact of cultural syncretism on religion.
   • Identify significant examples of African cultural norms and values, such as those relating to marriage and family, gender roles, social networks, recreation and leisure, political authority, economic relations in the workplace and society, etc.
   • Explain how the arts and humanities, popular culture, media, and social movements have influenced the sociocultural evolution of African societies.
   • Compare and contrast the primary sociocultural and demographic features of Africa to those of the United States and other developed societies in the Global North.
7. Explain how geography and the natural environment have impacted the sociocultural, economic, and political development of Africa.
   • Describe the physical geography of Africa and how it varies by region and nation-state.
   • Provide examples of social problems and political issues in contemporary Africa that are related to the natural environment.
   • Analyze the impact of geography and the natural environment on the economic and sociocultural development of Africa.
   • Explain how geography and the natural environment have influenced the prevalence of poverty and social inequality in Africa.
   • Compare and contrast poverty and social inequality in Africa with that of the United States and other developed societies in the Global North.
8. Describe and assess the historical evolution of major civilizations of Africa in the ancient and medieval eras.
   • Describe the early origins and cultural commonalities of indigenous societies in Africa.
   • Trace the historical, socioeconomic, and political development of ancient and medieval civilizations in Africa.
   • Evaluate the impact of the trans-Saharan trade and early European trade on African civilization.
   • Trace the historical, socioeconomic, and political development of the colonialism and imperialism in Africa.
   • Describe the main sociocultural and political structures of African societies in various ancient and medieval African civilizations.
9. Identify and describe major events leading to the rise and fall of colonial regimes, post-colonial regimes, and military juntas and other authoritarian regimes in the African region.
   • Identify and describe major events, ideas, and practices leading to the rise and consolidation of colonial regimes in Africa.
   • Describe the main sociocultural and political structures under colonial rule and the impact of social stratification systems and nationalist movements on colonial regimes.
   • Identify and describe major events, ideas, and practices leading to the decline and fall of colonial regimes in Africa.
   • Describe the sociopolitical role of the military (including military juntas) in colonial and post-colonial Africa.
   • Explain why African has been prone to political instability and civil wars throughout much of its postcolonial history.
10. Explain how modern global events and phenomena, such as American interventionism, imperialism, the Cold War, international trade and neoliberalism, and migration, have impacted and influenced Africa.
    • Provide examples of how American and European interventionism and imperialism have impacted and influenced Africa.
    • Provide examples of how the Cold War has impacted and influenced Africa.
    • Explain how neoliberalism and international trade have impacted and influenced Africa.
    • Explain how AIDS and other pandemics have impacted and influenced Africa.
    • Explain how internal migration and international immigration have impacted and influenced Africa.
11. Compare and contrast the political and economic systems of authoritarian and post-authoritarian nation-states in Africa.
    • Describe the main political and economic systems found in authoritarian nation-states of Africa.
    • Describe the main political and economic systems found in post-authoritarian nation-states of Africa.
    • Compare and contrast the political and economic systems of authoritarian and post-authoritarian nation-states in Africa.
    • Evaluate the political role of ethnicity and religion in African societies.
    • Evaluate the political role of social movements and social media in African societies.