ARTH 273 - Art and Empire in Africa, 1000-1700

FC ARHU CD

4 credits
This course will explore arts associated with the rise of African empires prior to the intensification of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the eighteenth century, with case studies focusing on Mali, Ethiopia, the Swahili Coast, Zimbabwe, Kongo, and Benin. Analyzing a broad range of visual culture - including architecture, statuary, prestige and trade goods, and ritual objects - as well as surviving primary sources, students will consider how visual culture exposes and reifies issues of class hierarchy, religious conversion, and political power in indigenous African contexts. Field trips required.
Prerequisites & Notes: 100-level course in art history or Africana Studies
Does this course require off campus field trips? Yes