아프리카 역사: 1학기 (9-13세)

Course Overview: The Story of Africa
Welcome to The Story of Africa, a dynamic and immersive course designed to introduce students to the vast, diverse, and deeply impactful history of the African continent. This course takes a unique approach—moving beyond textbook summaries and Eurocentric perspectives—to present Africa through an authentic African lens. Students will explore the continent's stories from the point of view of the people who have lived, created, and led its many civilizations across millennia.

In this course, students will uncover the rich tapestry of Africa’s history, geography, and cultures by engaging with primary sources, oral histories, music, storytelling traditions, cuisine, art, and hands-on projects. From the sweeping deserts of the Sahara to the highlands of Ethiopia, from the bustling trade cities of West Africa to the ancient pyramids along the Nile, this course offers a vivid, place-based, and human-centered understanding of the African experience.

Key Themes and Experiences Include:

Geography & Environment: Students will explore the diverse physical landscapes of Africa, including deserts, mountains, rivers, savannas, rainforests, and coastlines, gaining insight into how geography has shaped cultures, settlement patterns, and trade routes.

Cultural Heritage: We will delve into African music, languages, dress, storytelling, festivals, and daily life—both traditional and contemporary—highlighting the vibrancy and variety across different regions.

Identity & Migration: Through historical and modern lenses, students will learn about the many ethnic groups and peoples of Africa, migration patterns (such as the Bantu migration), and how identity is formed and expressed.

Ancient Civilizations: Students will study major African civilizations such as Ancient Egypt, Carthage, Kush, Aksum, and Great Zimbabwe, examining their innovations, belief systems, architecture, and influence on global history.

Empires & Trade Networks: We will explore powerful empires including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, as well as the Swahili city-states and transcontinental trade routes that connected Africa to Arabia, India, China, and Europe long before colonial contact.

Colonialism & Resistance: Students will investigate the impact of European colonization, including the Scramble for Africa, and how African communities resisted, survived, and ultimately contributed to independence movements.

Modern Africa: The course will also touch on post-colonial Africa, highlighting current challenges and successes in areas such as education, innovation, governance, agriculture, and arts.

Instructional Approach:
The course uses a student-centered and multidisciplinary approach, combining:

Interactive lectures and storytelling sessions

Group discussions and critical thinking activities

Cultural demonstrations (e.g., music, art, food tastings)

Geographic map studies and hands-on projects

Primary and secondary source analysis

Creative assignments such as designing historical artifacts, writing reflective journals, or creating mini-documentaries