HIST 334

African Diaspora

Begins with Precolonial Africa before the Transatlantic Slave Trade. African American history begins beyond the geographic United States.

Ghana Empire

Oldest empire from the 3^rd to 13^th century. Focused on gold exports. Technologically advanced, politically stable, wealthy, and influential. Droughts caused the empire to decline.

Malian Empire

Rose to power in 1235 and continued to the 16^th century. Sundiata Keita was king of Mali and led them to conquer Ghana. An Islamic kingdom that produced Arabic scholarship and influenced trade with the Arabic world. Became one of the most powerful empires due to Mansa Musa. He had a famous pilgrimage to Mecca.

Songhay

From 15^th to 16^th century. Overtook Mali and was renowned around the Islamic world.

Early Modern Europe

Feudal/post feudal society. Unfree labour (slavery), Middle ages marks a transition from slavery to serfdom. There is a slave trade of Slavic people. There are different ways of legalising slavery, such as Las Siete Partidas: code of laws.

Medieval/Early modern period

Europe begins its exploration of the rest of the world. Portugal initiates trade with Africa. In 1492 Christopher Columbus ‘discovers’ the New World.