Muslim Africa

1. What factors does Mervyn Hiskett attribute to the rapid rise of Shehu  Usman dan Fodio?

2. Would M.G. Smith agree with Hiskett's analysis? Why or why not?

3. Describe three theories M.O. Junaid outlined in his essay. Which one do you find the most convincing and why?

4. Explain some of the theoretical framework (methodologies) Peter Waterman outlines. What conclusions does he draw?

5. In what ways did the Qu'ran dictate how women should be treated in Islamic society? Did social interactions actually align with what was written in the Qu'ran? Provide examples for your analysis.

6. Who was Nana Asma'u and why is she important to our understanding of Muslims in Africa? How did the scholarly community find out about her?

7. Were economics an important element in the life Nana Asma'u? Why or why not?

Bantu and Yoruba Religions

1. What argument is Jacbo K. Olupona making about the History of Yoruba Religious Tradition? What methodologies and/or scholars does he utilize to make this analysis? Which one did you find the most interesting?

2. Provide a timeline for how Europeans came to understand the Yoruba religion. How did the indigenous groups respond? Do they agree with each other?

3. Detail a few of the Yoruba deities and/or religious ceremonies. Describe their significance.

4. Were you surprised to learn that the Brer Rabbit stories, written in Georgia in the late 19th century, are actually African folktales? Pick one of the short stories and explain why you like it.

5. What were the purpose of these tales in Africa and do you think that their meanings changed when they came to America? Why or why not?

6. How did environments affect the development of these two African religions? Can you find any evidence from the reading that would support this type of  analysis?

Essay 1 Prompt

 History 2501

ESSAY 1- Religion in Africa

1^st Draft Due- Peer Review, March 4

Final Due Date – March 14 at 10:10 am

 In a 7 page essay, describe how Yoruba, Bantu, Christian, and/or  Islamic religions influenced African development.  You should briefly discuss how the faiths emerged and then analyze how these beliefs helped to shape African culture by paying special attention to the environments, dates, and spread of each religion.  Organize your essay thematically and/or chronologically.  You can focus independently on topics like politics, economics, environment and gender, or combine them together.  You must use at least one reading from each week of section II Religions in Africa.

All essays must be turned in on 8 ½ x 11” paper and use 12 point font. All titles need to be centered. All drafts must be double-spaced and have 1” margins. Pages should be numbered and stapled together. First/second drafts must be included and may contain corrections and comments in pencil or ink, but final drafts should be as free from error as possible.  Any papers that do not conform to these standards will not be accepted.

The Donatist Martyr Stories

1. In what ways have historians begun to reexamine the traditional story of Donatist sect? What types of evidence do they utilize in order to provide a more complex understanding of the Church conflict in North Africa?

2.  Detail the divisions between the two Christian sects. Where does the "State" fit into this dispute?

3. Explain the three issues that we must recognize in order to understand the proper context of the Martyr stories.  Why these issues important for both historic peoples and modern day scholars?

4. How and for what were Cyprian, Felix, Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda  punished? Did these scenes of torture help or hurt the Donatist sect?

5. Does Gender fit into these new interpretations of the Donatist movement? Provide examples from the stories to support your points.

Egypt and Africa

1. Describe the Hamitic Hypothesis, the evidence Sanders' utilizes to make her argument, and detail why is it important to our understanding of African history.

2. What is  Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop's argument in regard to Egypt and what evidence does he provide for his conclusions?

3. How and by whom is Dr. Diop's thesis challenged?  Do you agree with this analysis? Why or not?

Gender and Prehistory

Invisible Gender:

1. What do you think Susan Kent would say about Lovejoy's thesis on bipedalism and monogamy?

2. Explain how Kent utilizes the archaeological record to gather ethnographic data.

3. How does Kent argue against Wilmsen and Denbrow? In what ways does she use space to help her make her arguments?

4. Describe some differences in the archaeological record between Stone Age and Iron Age sites.

5.  What are Kent's main conclusions?

East African Pastoralists:

1. What does Diane Gifford-Gonzalez find especially challenging when studying the ethnographic record of East African Pastorialists?

2.  Describe where Gifford-Gonzalez finds exceptions to androcentrism. Whose work is she supporting?

3. How does Gifford-Gonzalez utilize ceramics to help her argument?

4.What are Gifford-Gonzalez's two concluding observations about East African archaeology?

Early Human Evolution

1. According to the authors, why is understanding the climate of East Africa essential?

2. What is the pulsed climate variability hypothesis and what evidence do these scholars provide to support this theory? 

3. Are there limits to the scientists' knowledge about human evolution? Provide a few examples. 

4. There has been much debate about the chronology of the Ain Hanech Formation in North Africa. What methods do these scholars use to come to their conclusions and whose work are they supporting with this evidence? 

5.What is the "Green Sahara" and what are the problems with this hypothesis? What do these scholars present as an alternative hypothesis?