Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: DYNAMICS OF EMPIRE: PORTUGUESE, AFRICAN, AND BRAZILIAN INTERCONNECTIONS

Department: African & African Amer Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Seminar

Distribution Group: Distribution Group I

Credit Hours: 3

Description: The arrival of the Portuguese in Africa in the 15th century marked the beginning of European oceanic expansion, a movement that profoundly shaped the modern world. This expansion introduced dichotomous dynamics of center and periphery, along with new global relations rooted in racial hierarchies, often resulting in violent consequences for African peoples. Despite these oppressive systems, resistant voices have emerged and continue to grow as African people strive to redefine Blackness. This seminar covers key topics such as the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the development of African diasporic communities, colonialism in Africa, and Afro-Atlantic intellectual and ideological exchanges. We will also explore contemporary representations and mobilizations of Black culture and identity. Through critical readings and engaging discussions of prose, poetry, film, and music, we will analyze imperialism's history and enduring legacies.