2002FallAncientAfrica

State University of New York
PARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
(College of Arts & Sciences)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA Fall 2002

Class Meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00-9:50 a.m. at Baldy 117
Office Hours: Tuesday: 2:00-4:00 p.m. at 732 Clemens Hall North Campus.
Phone: 645-2082 Ext. 1125

Course Syllabus and Outline

A. Scope and Purpose of Course:

This course is designed to provide an intensive examination of man and society in ancient Africa, stretching back to the evolution of mankind and including an analysis of early forms of African state formations. Ancient Africa will be cut off from the period of European presence in Africa, marked by the beginnings of the Atlantic Slave Trade. The course will feature the following themes and topics: (i) Prehistoric ancient Africa; (ii) the desiccation of the Sahara and its consequences; (iii) Africa and Mediterranean civilizations; (iv) Coptic Christianity and the early history of Christianity; (v) Islam and its brush with Christianity in ancient Africa; (vi) Africa's ancient state formations; (vii) the impact of Arab invasion and occupation on ancient African state formations; (viii) the Bantu migration hypothesis; and (ix) the mystery of the Great Zimbabwes. All of these will lead to an examination of the dynamics of civilizations in ancient Africa, including their failed forms, using Arnold Toynbee's perspectives on the rise and fall of civilizations as a theoretical point of departure.

B. Course Requirement:

The examinations for this course will be in three parts, two mid-terms and one final. They will be take-home essay examinations and will test the students' intellectual power in reasoning through the issues covered in the course. The three examinations will carry equal weights. [Note: The examinations will be posted in the Internet along with this course outline. You will be able to access it through the Department of African American Studies= Web site. You may return your answers to the three sets of questions electronically or in hard copy.]

C. Texts and Readings:

Two texts will be referenced extensively and students are encouraged to purchase them at the University Bookstore. These are

Graham Connah. 1987. African Civilizations: Precolonial Cities and States in Tropical Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Basil Davidson. 1991. Africa Civilization Revisited. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press.

Readings will be taken from various sources. There will be references to web sites and web pages, in addition to the following:

J. F. Ade Ajayi and Michael Crowder, eds. 1985. The Historical Atlas of Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Bernal, Martin. 1991. Black Athena: Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization. Volume II: The Archeological and Documentary Evidence. New Brunscwick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.

Graham Connah. 1981. Three Thousand Years in Africa: Man and his environment in the Lake Chad region of Nigeria. New York: Cambridge University Press

Graham Connah. 1987. African Civilizations: Precolonial Cities and States in Tropical Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Basil Davidson. 1966. African Kingdoms. New York: Time Inc.

Basil Davidson. 1991. Africa Civilization Revisited. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press.

J. D. Fage and R.A. Oliver, eds., Papers in African Prehistory. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. Chapters 8 & 9.

Robert L. Hoover, The Origins and Initial Migrations of the Bantu.

R. E. Leakey and Roger Lewin. 1978. People of the Lake. New York: Anchor Press.

Roger Lewin. 1988. In the Age of Mankind. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books.

H. T. Norris. 1986. The Arab Conquest of the Western Sahara. Beirut: Longman

Roland Oliver, ed., 1928. The Dawn of African History. London: Oxford Univ. Press.

Martin A. J. Williams & Hugues Faure, editors. 1980 The Sahara and the Nile. Quaternary Environments and Prehistoric Occupation in Northern Africa. A. B. Balkema: Rotterdam.

D. Course Outline:

1st Week -- August 26-August 30: The Nature of African History

Perspectives on African history. European Imperialism and perspectives on African history. Egypt and African history: the Martin Bernal thesis on classical and Aryan models of the origins of Greek civilization. Stages of African history: ancient Africa; Arab presence in African history; European incursions into African history: slave trade and colonialism; post-colonial Africa.

Readings:

Martin Bernal, Black Atherna, Vol II: Introduction

Basil Davidson, African Civilization Revisited. Introduction

Web pages will be provided

2nd Week -- September 2-6: Africa's Contributions to the Origins of Humankind.

The search for the beginnings of mankind. Prejudices in the scholarship of man's origins. Religious interpretations of man's origins. The scientific study of man's origins. The beginnings of mankind in Africa. Homo erectus and homo sapiens in Africa. The migration of man outside Africa.

Readings:

Richard Leakey, "African Origins: A review of the record." Pp. 25-44 in Charles L. Hamrum, ed., Darwin's Legacy. San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Roger Lewin, In the Age of Mankind, pp. 112-133.

Leakey and Lewin, People of the Lake.

J. F. Ade Ajayi and Michael Crowder, eds. The Historical Atlas of Africa. P. 7.

Web Resources:

(1) Introduction to Homo Erectus: http://www.humanevolution.f2s.com/erectus.html

(2) Images of Homo Erectus: http://www.gurche.com/content_homo_erectus.htm

(3) Introduction to Homo Sapiens: http://www.humanevolution.f2s.com/sapiens.html

(4) Early Modern Homo Sapiens: http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/modern_humans.htm

3rd Week -- September 9-13: The Sahara and other Ecological Landmarks in African History and Politics

Forests and deserts in Africa. The Sahara as the hub of Africa in ancient times. The European Ice Age and the Sahara. The desiccation of the Sahara. The significance of rivers and lakes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Readings:

Selected maps of Africa showing its physical and ecological features.

Martin A. J. Williams & Hugues Faure, editors. The Sahara and the Nile. Quaternary Environments and Prehistoric Occupation in Northern Africa. Chapters 7 & 8.

Francoise Gasse et al, "The arid-humid transition in the Sahara and the Sahel during the last deglaciation." Nature, Vol. 346 (July 1990): 141-46.

Compton J. Tucker et al, "Expansion and Contraction of the Sahara Desert from 1980 to 1990." Science, Vol. 253 (July 1991): 299-301.

Web Resources:

(1) Archaic Art of North Africa: http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ta/tad.html

(2) Sahara (In Ancient History): http://www.metrum.org/mapping/sahara.htm

4th Week -- September 16-20: Africa and Mediterranean Civilizations.

Adaptation and civilization. Civilization as conquest of nature. Ecology and early civilizations: river valleys, lakes, etc. Arnold Tonybee's theory of civilizations. The importance of the Mediterranean region in the evolution of modern civilization. African links to the Mediterranean. The appropriation of Mediterranean civilization by the West. The nature of Western civilization.

Readings:

Roger Lewin, In the Age of Mankind, pp. 134-169.

Arnold Toynbee, "The Nature of the Growth of Civilizations." From Arnold J. Toynbee, A Study of History, Volumes I-IV abridged by D. C. Sommervell. New York: Oxford University Press. Pp.: 187-208.

Web Resources:

(1) AThe Influence of the Ancient Mediterranean Civilization on the Development of Human Cultures:@ http://www.medbc.com/annals/review/vol_5/num_1/text/vol5n1p5.htm

5th Week -- September 23-27: Saharan and Egyptian Civilizations

Ancient Egypt and modern Arabic Egypt contrasted. The link between ancient Egypt and the Sahara. Saharan civilizations and Egyptian colonization. The desiccation of the Sahara and the dispersal of its populations.

Readings:

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 43-58.

Basil Davidson, African Civilization Revisited. Pp. 49-64

J. F. Ade Ajayi and Michael Crowder, eds. The Historical Atlas of Africa. Pp. 13-14, 32.

Martin A. J. Williams & Hugues Faure, editors. The Sahara and the Nile. Quaternary Environments and Prehistoric Occupation in Northern Africa. Chapters 1

Web Resources:

(1) Ancient Egypt: http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html

6th Week – September 30 - October 4: Developments in the Middle Nile Valley.

The Nile valley and human civilization. Urban developments before 1500 B.C. in the middle Nile valley. The ancient states of Kush, Menroe, and Nubia. Early Christianity in Nubia. The conflict between Christianity and Islam in ancient Africa.

Readings:

Graham Connah, African Civilizations, Chapter 3.

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 33-42.

Basil Davidson, African Civilization Revisited. Pp. 65-69.

Web Resources:

Civilizations in Africa: Kush http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CIVAFRCA/KUSH.HTM

7th Week -- October 7-11: Ethiopian Civilization

Ethiopia's inheritance of Nubian culture. The state of Axum in the first century A.D. The spread of Islam in the 7th century A.D., Ethiopian Christianity, and its isolation. The ecological problems of Ethiopia.

Readings:

Graham Connah, African Civilizations, Chapter 4.

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 129-142.

Donald N. Levine, Greater Ethiopia. University of Chicago Press 1974. Chapters 1 & 2.

Web Resources:

African Civilizations: Axum http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CIVAFRCA/AXUM.HTM

Ethiopian Christianity: http://www.bethel.edu/~letnie/AfricanChristianity/EthiopiaHomepage.html

8th Week -- October 14-18: Arab Invasion and Occupation of North Africa

The rise of Islam in the 7th century. Arab military conquest of North Africa. Bedouin nomadic occupation of North Africa. The Arab displacement of the native Berbers and other ethnic groups in the Sahara in the 7th to 11th centuries. The spread of Islam along the Sahara.

Readings:

J. F. Ade Ajayi and Michael Crowder, eds. The Historical Atlas of Africa. Pp. 26-27.

H. T. Norris. 1986. The Arab Conquest of the Western Sahara. Beirut: Longman

Web Resources:

Islamic Invasions: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CIVAFRCA/ISLAM.HTM

9th Week -- October 21-25: Interactions Between Christianity and Islam In Ancient Africa

The role of Africa in the spread of early Christianity. St. Mark and Coptic Christianity. The African Church and the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity. The Islamic Conquest of Christianity in Africa. The misfortunes of African Christianity. The survival of Ethiopian Chistianity.

We Resources:

The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt: http://www.coptic.net/

African Christianity: http://www.bethel.edu/~letnie/AfricanChristianity/index.html

10th Week -- October 28-November 1: Civilizations of The Western Sudan

The states of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. The Saharan complex and the impact of Islam on these states. Cultural achievements: the University of Timbucktu. Morocco and the fall of Songhai. Consequences of Songhai's collapse.

Readings:

Graham Connah, African Civilizations, Chapter 5.

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 79-99.

Basil Davidson, African Civilization Revisited. Pp. 85-118.

John D. Fage, "Some Thoughts on State-Formation in the Western Sudan Before the Seventeenth Century." Pp. 19-34 in Jefrey Butler, ed., Boston University Papers in African History.

S. M. Cissoko, "The Songhay from the 12th to the 16th Century." Pp. 187-210 in D. T. Niane, ed., General History of Africa Vol. IV.

Web Resources:

Collapse: Mali & Songhai http://www.learner.org/exhibits/collapse/mali.html

11th Week -- November 4-8: West African Forest Civilizations

The ecological features of West Africa. Population density. A flourish of West African states: Oyo; Benin City; Dahomey.

Readings:

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 101-120.

Basil Davidson, African Civilization Revisited. Pp. 119-124.

Graham Connah, African Civilizations, Chapter 6.

Peter Ekeh, "Benin and Thebes: Elementary Forms of Civilization." Pp. 65-93 in Werner Muensterberger, Aaron H. Esman and L. Bryce Boyer, eds., The Psychoanalytic Study of Society. Vol. VIII. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976.

P. Morton-Williams, "The Yoruba Ogboni Cult in Oyo." Africa, 30:362-374.

Jacob Egharevba, A Short History of Benin.

12th Week -- November 11-15: Urban and State Developments in the East African Coast

East Africa and Indian Ocean. Swahili Culture in 4th century A.D. Islam in the East Coast and in the hinterland. Indigenous cultures of East and West Africa compared.

Readings:

Graham Connah, African Civilizations, chapter 7.

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 180-1.

Basil Davidson, African Civilization Revisited. Pp. 127-166.

13th Week -- November 18-22: The Bantu Migration Hypothesis.

The term "Bantu". The common linguistic and cultural features of human existence in central and southern Africa. The Bantu migration hypothesis.

Readings:

J. D. Fage and R. A. Oliver, eds., Papers in African Prehistory. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. Chapters 8 & 9.

Robert L. Hoover, The Origins and Initial Migrations of the Bantu.

We Resources:

Britannica Article: Bantu Peoples: http://208.154.71.60/bcom/eb/article/5/0,5716,13375+1+13220,00.html

14^th Week – December 2-6: The Mystery of the Great Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Plateau. The nature of Zimbabwe urban development. Its reconstruction: why it is so difficult. Great Zimbabwe and modern southern Africa.

Readings:

Basil Davidson, African Kingdoms, pp. 178-179.

Graham Connah, African Civilizations, chapter 8.

Roland Oliver, ed., The Dawn of African History. Chapter 8: "The Riddle of Zimbabwe."

Web Resources:

Riddle of Great Zimbabwe: http://www.archaeology.org/9807/abstracts/africa.html

15th Week -- December 9: Assessing the Nature of Ancient African civilizations

Arnold Toynbee's thesis revisited. Challenges and responses in developments in African history. Comparative history of indigenous peoples: American Indians; Caribs; and Australian natives.

16th Week -- December 16-19: Examinations

Final take-home essay examination is due this week.

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA September 26, 1996

First Take-Home Examination

EITHER

1A. Discuss the evolution of humankind in Africa. What is the importance of the distinction between homo erectus and homo sapiens in Africa's contribution to humankind's evolution?

1B. Assess Charles Darwin's contributions to the theory of evolution. Would it be fair to say that humankind's evolution in Africa and beyond followed Darwin's theory?

2. What are the causes and consequences of the desiccation of the Sahara? How have the changes in the Sahara altered human life and natural existence of the north African region in ancient and modern times?

3. "In ancient times Africa was part of Mediterranean civilization."

To what extent could Africa be said to have been part of the ancient Mediterranean world?

4. Write an essay on Egyptian civilization as a social formation of ancient African history. To what extent was Egypt part of the Sahara and the Nile?

5. Discuss Arnold Toynbee's theory of civilization. How helpful is the Toynbean notion of challenge-and-response in accounting for the rise and fall of ancient African civilizations?

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA March 9, 1995

(An Honors Course)

Second Take-Home Examination

Answer any TWO of the questions set out below. You are required to return your answer papers not later than three weeks from the date of this examination. Please make sure that your essays are well reasoned. The organization and presentation of your paper will be given some credit. You are free to make use of material from class lectures, readings from the recommended texts, and other sources that you may have consulted on your own.

1. Discuss the growth and decline of Kushite and Nubian civilization. How well did it respond to the challenges it faced from its ecological environment and its political circumstances of being close to Egypt?

2. Write an essay on ancient Ethiopia. How was Ethiopia able to overcome attempts to conquer it by alien forces to which other African state civilizations fell prey?

3. Assess the importance of the triple state system of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in understanding the circumstances of ancient Africa. To what extent was the fall of Songhai responsible for political decay in the Western and Central Sudan?

4. "The Arab conquest and occupation of north Africa marked the beginning of the end of independence and autonomy for African state civilizations."

Examine the scope and consequences of the Arab invasion and conquest of north Africa and the Sahara.

EITHER

5A. Write an essay on the interaction between Islam and Christianity in ancient Africa.

5B. Write an essay on Christianity in ancient Africa. How was the fate of Christianity in ancient Africa related to its misfortunes in its original region of birth?

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO

Department of African American Studies

AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA

Peter Ekeh Fall 1993

Third Take-Home Examination

Answer any TWO of the questions set out below. You are required to return your answer papers to 732 (or 738) Clemens Hall, North Campus, not later than December 16, 1993. Note that you may receive an incomplete grade if you turn in your answer paper later than the specified date. Please make sure that your essays are well reasoned. The organization and presentation of your paper will be given some credit. You are free to make use of material from class lectures, readings from the recommended texts, and other sources that you may have consulted on your own.

December 9, 1993

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA April 11, 1995

(An Honors Course)

Third Take-Home Examination

This examination is in two sections. You are required to attempt either two questions in Section A or to write a single paper on a topic among the ones indicated in Section B.

SECTION A

1. Examine the nature of either (i) Oyo or (ii) Benin city-state in ancient Africa. In what respects were the so-called forest states of ancient West Africa different from their counterparts in the Nile Valley and the Western and Central Sudan?

2. Discuss the relationship between nature and scope of the coastal city and trading settlements in ancient East Africa and the emergence of Swahili as a major language in the countries of Eastern and Central Africa.

3. What do you understand by the Bantu migrations? Assess their importance in spreading ancient African cultures.

4. Write an essay on the Zimbabwe ruins, offering explanations for their existence and their decay. Why do you think they have so often been misinterpreted?

5. What accounts for the retardation of African civilizations from Africa's remarkable past? Is it fair to say that the African past is richer than the African present? Give examples to illustrate your arguments.

6. Considering the material and topics covered in this course, to what extent would it be justified to say that ecological features hold the key to a full interpretation of the ancient African past?

Please Turn Over

SECTION B

This section requires a single paper which you should develop at some depth. Please return your paper in three weeks. Write a paper on one of the following topics:

1. Threats to ancient African civilizations: ecological degradation or outsiders' invasions and control of the African continent.

2. What do you understand by the Toynbean challenge-and-response hypothesis on the development of civilizations? Considering the various forms of African civilizations covered in this course how well in your estimation did ancient African states respond to the crises that they faced?

3. Develop a paper on the Bantu Migration Hypothesis, illustrating its significance for the integrity of culture in Africa South of the Sahara.

4. Write a paper on royal traditions in the Forest States of ancient Africa. Include considerations of checks and balances in monarchical rule of these states.

5. Write a paper on Swahili as a lingua franca in Africa.

6. Discuss the relevance of the Zimbabwe ruins in assessing the problems of civilization in ancient Africa.

April 11, 1995

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA Fall 1995

First Take-Home Examination

Answer any TWO of the questions set out below. You are required to return your answer papers not later than October 19 1995. Please make sure that your essays are well reasoned. The organization and presentation of your paper will be given some credit. You are free to make use of material from class lectures, readings from the recommended texts, and other sources that you may have consulted on your own. Note that failure to return your examination papers may lead to your loss of credit in this course. Also note that failure to return all three take-home examinations in this course will result in a failing grade.

EITHER

1A. "Africa is the cradle of humanity."

Discuss the evolution of humankind in Africa. What is the importance of the distinction between homo erectus and homo sapiens in Africa's contribution to humankind's evolution?

1B. Assess Charles Darwin's contributions to the theory of evolution. Would it be fair to say that humankind's evolution in Africa and beyond followed Darwin's theory?

3. "In ancient times Africa was very much part of the Mediterranean complex of civilizations."

Discuss the relationship between Africa and the Mediterranean world in ancient times.

4. Write an essay on Egyptian civilization as a social formation of ancient African history. To what extent was Egypt part of the Sahara and the Nile?

5. Discuss Arnold Toynbee's theory of civilization. How helpful is the Toynbean notion of challenge-and-response in accounting for the rise and fall of ancient Egyptian civilization?

October 3 1995

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA Fall 1995

Second Take-Home Examination

Answer any TWO of the questions set out below. You are required to return your answer papers not later than two weeks from the date of this examination. Please make sure that your essays are well reasoned. The organization and presentation of your paper will be given some credit. You are free to make use of material from class lectures, readings from the recommended texts, and other sources that you may have consulted on your own. Note that failure to return your examination papers may lead to your loss of credit in this course. Also note that failure to return all three take-home examinations in this course will result in a failing grade.

2. Write an essay on ancient Ethiopia. How was Ethiopia able to overcome attempts to conquer it by alien forces to which other African state civilizations fell prey?

4. "The Arab conquest and occupation of north Africa marked the beginning of the end of independence and autonomy for African state civilizations."

Examine the scope and consequences of the Arab invasion and conquest of north Africa and the Sahara.

EITHER

5A. Write an essay on the interaction between Islam and Christianity in ancient Africa.

5B. Write an essay on Christianity in ancient Africa. How was the fate of Christianity in ancient Africa related to its misfortunes in its original region of birth?

November 9, 1995

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA Fall 1995

Cancellation of November 30, 1995 Meeting--9.30 a.m.

Owing to an unanticipated problem, the class meeting of November 30 is cancelled. I regret that this is the case. We will meet during the scheduled periods next week.

Graduate students attending this class should please note that this cancellation does not affect the our evening graduate meeting.

Peter Ekeh

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA December 5, 1996

(An Honors Course)

Third Take-Home Examination

Answer any TWO of the questions set out below. You are required to return your answer papers not later than Thursday, December 19, 1996. Please make sure that your essays are well reasoned. The organization and presentation of your paper will be given some credit. You are free to make use of material from class lectures, readings from the recommended texts, and other sources that you may have consulted on your own. Note that failure to return your examination papers may lead to your loss of credit in this course. Also note that failure to return all three take-home examinations in this course will result in a failing grade.

2. Discuss the nature of the Fulani conquest of Hausa states in the nineteenth century. How would rate the governance of Fulani Sokoto Caliphate in comparison to Songhai?

3. Discuss the relationship between nature and scope of the coastal city and trading settlements in ancient East Africa and the emergence of Swahili as a major language in the countries of Eastern and Central Africa.

4. What do you understand by the Bantu migrations? Assess their importance in spreading ancient African cultures.

5. Write an essay on the Zimbabwe ruins, offering explanations for their existence and their decay. Why do you think they have so often been misinterpreted?

6. What accounts for the retardation of African civilizations from Africa's remarkable past? Is it fair to say that the African past is richer than the African present? Give examples to illustrate your arguments.

7. Considering the material and topics covered in this course, to what extent would it be justified to say that ecological features hold the key to a full interpretation of the ancient African past?

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA Fall 1996

Second Take-Home Examination

2. Write an essay on ancient Ethiopia. How was Ethiopia able to overcome attempts to conquer it by alien forces to which other African state civilizations fell prey?

4. "The Arab conquest and occupation of north Africa marked the beginning of the end of independence and autonomy for African state civilizations."

Examine the scope and consequences of the Arab invasion and conquest of north Africa and the Sahara.

EITHER

5A. Write an essay on the interaction between Islam and Christianity in ancient Africa.

5B. Write an essay on Christianity in ancient Africa. How was the fate of Christianity in ancient Africa related to its misfortunes in its original region of birth?

November 19, 1996

State University of New York

DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

(Faculty of Arts & Letters)

Peter Ekeh AAS 315 ANCIENT AFRICA Fall 1998

First Take-Home Examination

Answer any TWO of the questions set out below. You are required to return your answer papers not later than Thursday, October 29 1998. Please make sure that your essays are well reasoned. The organization and presentation of your paper will be given some credit. You are free to make use of material from class lectures, readings from the recommended texts, and other sources that you may have consulted on your own. Note that failure to return your examination papers may lead to your loss of credit in this course. Also note that failure to return all three take-home examinations in this course will result in a failing grade.

1. EITHER

1A. "Africa is the cradle of humanity."

Discuss the evolution of humankind in Africa. What is the importance of the distinction between homo erectus and homo sapiens in Africa's contribution to humankind's evolution?

1B. Assess Charles Darwin's contributions to the theory of evolution. Would it be fair to say that humankind's evolution in Africa and beyond followed Darwin's theory?

3. Discuss the relationship between Africa and the Mediterranean world in ancient times.

4. EITHER

4A. Discuss Martin Bernal=s views on the relationships between ancient Egypt and the beginnings of Greek civilization. Why did the West reject the Greek native theory of their origins and why did they substitute a new Aryan model for accounting for the origins of Greek civilization?

4B. Write an essay on Egyptian civilization as a social formation of ancient African history. To what extent was Egypt part of the Sahara and the Nile?

5. Write an essay on the rise and fall of Kush and Nubia, accounting for the factors that enabled their civilizations and their eventual demise.

6. Discuss Arnold Toynbee's theory of civilization. How helpful is the Toynbean notion of challenge-and-response in accounting for the rise and fall of ancient Egyptian and Kushite civilizations?

October 15, 1998