Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2016 - HIST 344 D100

Themes in Modern East Africa (4)

Migrations & East Africa

Class Number: 4200

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 11, 2016: Wed, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 5 – Apr 11, 2016: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 19, 2016
    Tue, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units including 9 units of lower division History.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines the diversity of environments, cultures and livelihoods in East Africa and the Horn in the context of long-term trans-regional influences, especially slave trade, cash cropping, colonization and post-colonial politics, and the expansion of the world religions into East Africa. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 344 may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught.

COURSE DETAILS:

Migrations AND Eastern Africa: Movements of People, Ideas & Things

Eastern Africa, broadly defined, encompasses the Horn of Africa south to Mozambique, as far inland as Lake Victoria. Beginning with early hominids, the people living in this region have singularly influenced, and been influenced by, the ideas, technologies, and populations of other parts of Africa, Arabia, India, and later Europe and China. We will explore how peoples of Eastern Africa experienced movements of populations in the spheres of religion (Islam, Christianity, indigenous practices) and trade (foods, technologies, luxuries, and slaves) by the first millennium. Then, we will then examine colonial migrations to Eastern Africa (Portuguese, Omani, German, British), and the impact of incoming merchants and labour from Asia. In the decolonization and post-colonial eras, we will contemplate how migrants are positioned relative to emerging ethnic nationalisms, including the famous expulsion of Asians by Uganda’s Idi Amin. In recent times, Chinese investment in eastern Africa has led to marked and rapid changes, and regional migrant labour patterns have contributed to the spread of HIV. We will consider how scholars conceptualize migration in the past and present, and this class will tap into current discourses of migrations and migrants around the world. These topics will be explored through lectures, discussions, scholarship, primary documents, fiction, film, and current news sources.

Grading

  • Primary Source Analysis 20%
  • Tutorial 20%
  • Quizzes (2) 30%
  • Term Paper 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Collins, Robert O. African History in Documents: Eastern African History (1990, Markus Weiner Publishers) ISBN 978-1558760165.

Fischer, Michael. Migration: A World History (2013, Oxford University Press) ISBN 978-0199764334

Vassanji, M.J. The in-between world of Vikram Lall. (various editions)

Additional readings to be available on Canvas

RECOMMENDED READING:

Parker, John and Richard Rathbone. African History: A Very Short Introduction. (2007, Oxford University Press) ISBN 978-0-19-280248-4

Koser, Khalid. International Migration: A Very Short Introduction, (2007, Oxford University Press) ISBN 978-0-19-929801-3

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS