course-details-portlet

HIST3485

Modern African History

Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Home examination

About

About the course

Course content

This course provides an advanced overview of the main issues in modern African history (Africa south of the Sahara) in the period from ca. 1700 to the present. The goal is to provide detailed insights into the important processes that brought change to African communities, as seen from a long historical perspective. Important processes includes the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, post-colonialism and democratization. Africa will be examined in a global context, with contact and interaction with the rest of the world as a central theme. Both external and internal factors will be considered in discussions of Africa's development. The course will also contextualize and problematize perceptions of Africa that have been created since the 18th century and discuss how and why these perceptions in many instances preserver, also in Norway.

Learning outcome

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge base

Candidates have

  • gained a thorough knowledge of the central political, economic and social themes in the history of Africa from the 18th century (1700s) to the present
  • gained an advanced knowledge of the different historical perspectives that are used in explaining developments in Africa from the 18th century (1700s) to the present
  • gained thorough understanding of continuities and breaks in perceptions of Africa

Skills

Candidates

  • can account for the central historical processes that trigger changes in African development from the 18th century (1700s) to the present
  • can explain the function of different perceptions of Africa
  • can explain continuities and breaks in perceptions of Africa
  • can demonstrate capability to focus, reason, and argue well when dealing with themes from African history
  • can can write an expository essay on central themes in African history from the period

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars. Two seminar presentations that are obligatory and must be passed to sit the exam. Passed assignments are valid for the three following semesters. Six-hour final examination.

Compulsory assignments

  • Oral assignment
  • Oral assignment

Course materials

See curriculum published at the start of the semester, and other materials (reading and lecture lists and other relevant information) published on Blackboard.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
AFR2850 15 sp Autumn 2016
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Africa Studies
  • History

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Historical and Classical Studies

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Home examination
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Home examination
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids ALLE Date Release 2025-12-01
Submission 2025-12-04
Time Release 09:00
Submission 14:00
Exam system Inspera Assessment