African History: The Rise and Fall of Empires, c.700 to c.1700

About this course

This course examines the development and transformation of major West African states between approximately 700 and 1700, including Ghana, Mali and Songhay. Topics include political organisation, social structures, imperial expansion, trans-Saharan commerce, cities, intellectual life and the influence of Islam. Teaching combines short lectures with discussion and group-based analysis of primary and secondary sources, including maps, artefact images, diary entries and historical writing. The course also considers how internal pressures and external forces shaped crisis, decline and wider regional connections.

What you'll learn

• Explain political organisation and social structure in West African societies between approximately 700 and 1700
• Analyse the expansion, decline and transformation of the Ghana, Mali and Songhay empires
• Assess how trans-Saharan trade shaped economic and political power
• Evaluate the effects of Islam on governance, intellectual life and social change
• Interpret historical sources and compare different arguments about Africa’s role in premodern regional and global networks

Is this course right for you?

The course is designed for complete beginners and those curious about African history. Participation includes structured discussion, collaborative source analysis and group learning, alongside short lectures. No formal homework is required, although learners may choose to read or reflect between sessions.

• Suitable for learners with no previous experience of the subject
• Includes collaborative analysis of historical sources and group discussion
• Further reading between sessions is optional rather than formal homework

Before you go

• Pen and paper may be brought for note-taking, if desired.