Introduction to Topics in History (292-0-20)

Topic

African Histories of Science

Instructors

Helen Tilley
Helen Tilley studies African colonial and postcolonial history with a particular focus on medical, racial, environmental, and anthropological themes. She is finishing a book on the history of traditional medicine and its relationship to African decolonization, global governance, and ethnoscientific research during the Cold War.

Meeting Info

Harris Hall L04: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This seminar explores the history of scientific ingenuity and technical know-how in Africa over two millennia. In the first half, you'll learn about metallurgy and artistry, landscapes and foodways, architecture and urban aesthetics, and mining and trade. The second half focuses more on European conquest and its aftermath. You'll study mapping and human origins research, racial and biomedical investigations, transport infrastructures (roads, railways, telegraphy, air travel), algorithms and digital tech (radio, cellphones), and a variety of development projects. We'll do a range of exercises that help you place case studies in their widest context, geographical and sociocultural. We'll discuss what it means to make and create useful arts, to know and manage environments, and to cultivate well-being. We'll also examine different yardsticks that have been used to measure - and often denigrate - African accomplishments. We'll hold at least one seminar in the Material History Lab and one in the Africana Library.

Learning Objectives

1. Develop historical reasoning skills. 2. Place case studies across several centuries in context. 3. Learn some basics of African history. 4. Practice doing object histories. 5. Learn to critique primary sources.

Evaluation Method

No Gen-AI use on readings/essays: Essays; history of a museum object or instrument; weekly paragraphs on readings; a solo or group multimedia project; contributions to seminar.

Class Notes

History Major Concentration(s): Global, Africa/Middle East
History Minor Concentration(s): Science and Technology

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
SoC Additional Distro