DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND POLITICAL STUDIES
AHT 100: SOURCES OF AFRICAN HISTORY
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to this module. Throughout our learning experiences, we have come across the term
history. This concept has been defined differently by different scholars at different times. In this
module, we introduce you to the study of history as an academic discipline. By doing so, we will
demonstrate how history relates with other disciplines. You will realize that history demonstrates
developmental changes among human beings and their environment over time. This is an
interactive blended learning module that uses both action and collaborative learning styles. It is
intended to provide you with diverse online learning experiences. At the core of this module is to
analyze the nature and scope of Sources of African History. This will lay the foundation for
, further study of history by equipping you with the knowledge and skills that are important in the
generation of historical knowledge.
To begin with, we shall conceptualize the phrase Sources of African History. This phrase
constitutes three words namely; sources, African and history. These words feature prominently in
this module. The module defines these words and encourages you to engage in in-depth
discussions of these concepts. While we highlight them at the onset, it is necessary to understand
their operative applications throughout our learning processes in this course. The module takes
you through the evolution of history as an academic discipline and the intellectual discourses that
have informed the study of African history. Since history is closely associated with humans, we
introduce you to the debate on the pertinent question of the origin of humanity and therefore
human civilization. This is because early European scholars, traders, travelers, soldiers and
administrators denied Africa its rightful contribution in history. We hope that you will find this
debate exciting and engaging. Indeed, the module takes you through various approaches and
methodologies that have characterized the study of African history. The module further examines
the strengths and weaknesses of sources of African history such as historical linguistics,
archaeology, social anthropology, oral and written sources. This will guide you on the validity of
the sources and if the histories generated by these sources will stand the critical test of time.
Lastly but not least, you will be introduced to the modes of carrying out historical research. After
all, research is the backbone of academic disciplines and history is not an exception.
SOURCES OF AFRICAN HISTORY FLOW CHART
WEEK TOPIC
WEEK 0: INTRODUCTION (YOUR CONTEXT, YOUR GOALS, THOUGHTS
ABOUT HISTORY AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE)
WEEK 1: DEFINITIONS OF KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS (SOURCES, AFRICAN AND
2
, HISTORY)
WEEK 2: ARCHAEOLOGY AS A SOURCE OF AFRICAN HISTORY
WEEK 3: HISTORICAL LINGUISTS AS A SOURCE OF AFRICAN HISTORY
WEEK 4: WRITTEN SOURCES
WEEK 5: EUROPEAN DOCUMENTS/ CONTINOUS ASSEMENT TEST
WEEK 6: SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY
WEEK 7: ORAL SOURCES (ORAL TRADITIONS AND ORAL HISTORY)
WEEK 8: MODES OF CARRYING OUT RESEARCH
WEEK 9: MODES OF CARRYING OUT RESEARCH
WEEK 10: CONTINOUS ASSESSMENT TEST
WEEK 11&12 EXAMINATION
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE
Week 0: Introduction (Your Context, Your Goals)
This lesson intends to introduce you to blended learning and to create a community of learners
who will motivate each other during the course. You will be required to introduce yourself to
your lecturer and colleagues either physically during a face to face session or even online before
other academic interactions start. This will be at the discretion of your lecturer. It will be
3
, important to also state your context and goals as well as what you think about history as an
academic discipline.
Week 1: Definitions of Key words and Concepts (Sources of African History)
In this first lesson, we lay the foundation for the entire course by examining the nature and scope
of Sources of African History. The purpose of this lesson is to introduce you to the
intellectual discourses that inform the study of African history
Week 2: Archaeology as a source of African History
In this lesson, we define archaeology and state the reasons why archaeology should be studied.
The purpose of this lesson is to examine the role of archeology in historical reconstruction.
Week 3: Historical linguistics as a Source of African History
In this lesson, we examine the meaning of historical linguistics and how historical linguistics can
be employed in writing the history of any African communities. The lesson focuses at linguistic
classification, use of words, Bantu origin and expansion and chronology.
Week 4: Written Sources
This lesson focuses on written sources as a source of African history. The discussion of written
sources will provide a survey of the various forms of literature including ancient, Asiatic,
European and African. We hope in the process to demonstrate that if used carefully, written
sources are crucial in the reconstruction of African history.
Week 5: European Documents
This lesson is a continuity of the previous one. In this lesson, you will continue discussing
written records by concentrating on Europeans and African written sources. We hope to show
that European and African sources have some contribution to make towards African history if
well used.
4
AHT 100: SOURCES OF AFRICAN HISTORY
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to this module. Throughout our learning experiences, we have come across the term
history. This concept has been defined differently by different scholars at different times. In this
module, we introduce you to the study of history as an academic discipline. By doing so, we will
demonstrate how history relates with other disciplines. You will realize that history demonstrates
developmental changes among human beings and their environment over time. This is an
interactive blended learning module that uses both action and collaborative learning styles. It is
intended to provide you with diverse online learning experiences. At the core of this module is to
analyze the nature and scope of Sources of African History. This will lay the foundation for
, further study of history by equipping you with the knowledge and skills that are important in the
generation of historical knowledge.
To begin with, we shall conceptualize the phrase Sources of African History. This phrase
constitutes three words namely; sources, African and history. These words feature prominently in
this module. The module defines these words and encourages you to engage in in-depth
discussions of these concepts. While we highlight them at the onset, it is necessary to understand
their operative applications throughout our learning processes in this course. The module takes
you through the evolution of history as an academic discipline and the intellectual discourses that
have informed the study of African history. Since history is closely associated with humans, we
introduce you to the debate on the pertinent question of the origin of humanity and therefore
human civilization. This is because early European scholars, traders, travelers, soldiers and
administrators denied Africa its rightful contribution in history. We hope that you will find this
debate exciting and engaging. Indeed, the module takes you through various approaches and
methodologies that have characterized the study of African history. The module further examines
the strengths and weaknesses of sources of African history such as historical linguistics,
archaeology, social anthropology, oral and written sources. This will guide you on the validity of
the sources and if the histories generated by these sources will stand the critical test of time.
Lastly but not least, you will be introduced to the modes of carrying out historical research. After
all, research is the backbone of academic disciplines and history is not an exception.
SOURCES OF AFRICAN HISTORY FLOW CHART
WEEK TOPIC
WEEK 0: INTRODUCTION (YOUR CONTEXT, YOUR GOALS, THOUGHTS
ABOUT HISTORY AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE)
WEEK 1: DEFINITIONS OF KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS (SOURCES, AFRICAN AND
2
, HISTORY)
WEEK 2: ARCHAEOLOGY AS A SOURCE OF AFRICAN HISTORY
WEEK 3: HISTORICAL LINGUISTS AS A SOURCE OF AFRICAN HISTORY
WEEK 4: WRITTEN SOURCES
WEEK 5: EUROPEAN DOCUMENTS/ CONTINOUS ASSEMENT TEST
WEEK 6: SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY
WEEK 7: ORAL SOURCES (ORAL TRADITIONS AND ORAL HISTORY)
WEEK 8: MODES OF CARRYING OUT RESEARCH
WEEK 9: MODES OF CARRYING OUT RESEARCH
WEEK 10: CONTINOUS ASSESSMENT TEST
WEEK 11&12 EXAMINATION
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE
Week 0: Introduction (Your Context, Your Goals)
This lesson intends to introduce you to blended learning and to create a community of learners
who will motivate each other during the course. You will be required to introduce yourself to
your lecturer and colleagues either physically during a face to face session or even online before
other academic interactions start. This will be at the discretion of your lecturer. It will be
3
, important to also state your context and goals as well as what you think about history as an
academic discipline.
Week 1: Definitions of Key words and Concepts (Sources of African History)
In this first lesson, we lay the foundation for the entire course by examining the nature and scope
of Sources of African History. The purpose of this lesson is to introduce you to the
intellectual discourses that inform the study of African history
Week 2: Archaeology as a source of African History
In this lesson, we define archaeology and state the reasons why archaeology should be studied.
The purpose of this lesson is to examine the role of archeology in historical reconstruction.
Week 3: Historical linguistics as a Source of African History
In this lesson, we examine the meaning of historical linguistics and how historical linguistics can
be employed in writing the history of any African communities. The lesson focuses at linguistic
classification, use of words, Bantu origin and expansion and chronology.
Week 4: Written Sources
This lesson focuses on written sources as a source of African history. The discussion of written
sources will provide a survey of the various forms of literature including ancient, Asiatic,
European and African. We hope in the process to demonstrate that if used carefully, written
sources are crucial in the reconstruction of African history.
Week 5: European Documents
This lesson is a continuity of the previous one. In this lesson, you will continue discussing
written records by concentrating on Europeans and African written sources. We hope to show
that European and African sources have some contribution to make towards African history if
well used.
4
