Intro: We have now covered a large chunk of African history, from the deep past of the continent’s earliest colonizers, through its ancient kingdoms and communities, to the period of European colonization (a much more recent, though no less significant event). It would be a major understatement to say we’ve covered a lot of change. The question that remains is: how should we (most of us being Westerners or at least outsiders) understand this long period of African history?

Prompt: Use five of the seven maps provided below to challenge the conventional wisdom about Africa’s past as being backward, disconnected from global trends, and primitive (you can certainly cover other stereotypes if you wish). What do the maps tell us about Africa’s history from its pre-history to the 1800s? Your essay should be between 900 and 1000 words (about 3 pages). You need not use each map, but it is a good idea to get as much coverage from the syllabus as possible (i.e. something from each unit). You may pair maps together in a single point if that helps.

Keep in mind that change over time is important. Do the maps show more, less, or different information about Africa from our earliest example in 1375?

All but one of the maps comes directly from reading or lecture material. Feel free to describe not only what they show, but also what different historical interpretations (i.e. stories) they evoke. The strongest answers will supplement descriptions with source material (reading and/or lecture). For example, Map #7 comes straight from Sunjata. What themes from that book provide a different interpretation of African history than, say, Diamond’s in Map #1?

NO CITATIONS NECESSARY. Do not use outside sources.

1. An odd map from our reading from J. Diamond on “How Africa Became Black.”
2. Malian emperor Mansa Musa on a 1375 Catalan map depicting his journey across the Sahara. You’ll notice there are two maps here: one in close and one out wide.
3. A map of western Africa made during the slave trade.
4. A map of Africa after European made claims on African territories after the Conference of Berlin in 1884.
5. This is the one not in reading or lecture. It is a recent interpretation of what Africa may have looked like had colonization not happened.
6. A map of the trade routes the Swahili participated in across the Indian Ocean.
7. A map of the geographic and numerical distribution of Atlantic slavery.
8. A map of the area where Sunjata took place. (see xxxviii of Sunjata)