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Lecturer(s)
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Hrušková Jana, doc. M.A., Ph.D.
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Chroust Zdeněk, doc. PhDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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1) Pre-colonial period The first series of lectures will discuss the relation of both regions since the formation of the first complex societies, states and urbanism throughout the pre-colonial period, with an emphasis on causality and the broader context in the search for historical milestones. This period will be presented and discussed mainly on the basis of understanding the main features of material culture and archaeological sources, and with the help of selected written sources and preserved oral history. 2) Sahara At least since 1000 AD to the end of the 16th century, Sahara became a connecting point between Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. In these lectures, students will be introduced to main features of this historical period as well as common cultural, intellectual, and religious interactions, as well as the important role of trade and intercultural exchange. Cultural trajectories and parallels in regions with specific climatic conditions and livelihoods will also be discussed. 3) Islam One of the most significant common features of both the Middle East and Africa is Islam. In these series of lectures, we will analyze processes of Africanization of Islam, or penetration of pre-Islamic traditions to the Middle East, as well as making of cosmopolitan, plural Islamic societies in both regions. In particular, the specifics of Islam in the Middle East, West and East Africa will be highlighted and compared. We will shed light on the historical roots of this development and its influence on material and cultural traditions. 4) Africa and the Middle East in social sciences In these series of lectures, we will analyze a space occupied by the Middle East and Africa, or the so-called orient, in Western social sciences and public discourse in past and present. Thus, the way in which Africa and the Middle East were portrayed in the changing 20th century (colonialism, cold war) will be discussed. 5) Contemporary Europe and regions of close neighborhood (Africa and Middle East) In the last phase of the course, students will be introduced to the way in which Africa and the Middle East are covered in contemporary Europe (including the Czech Republic), primarily in the media and intellectual sphere, not so much in politics/international relations.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Instruction based on dialogue, Multimedia supported teaching, Students' self-study, Self-study of literature, Lecture
- Contact hours
- 39 hours per semester
- Preparation for an examination (30-60)
- 70 hours per semester
- Preparation for formative assessments (2-20)
- 21 hours per semester
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| prerequisite |
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| Knowledge |
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| - to identify important events, processes and characteristics of ancient and medieval history of Middle East and North Africa |
| Skills |
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| - to work with English texts - to use individually available information sources and technologies |
| Competences |
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| N/A |
| N/A |
| learning outcomes |
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| Knowledge |
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| - to identify important events, phenomena, processes and characteristics in relations between regions Middle east and Africa - to characterize historical cultural interactions between regions - to explain religious connections between regions - to characterize perception of both regions in Europe |
| Skills |
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| - to analyze various aspects of historical connestions between Middle East and Africa - to interpret meaning of different events and processes in given framework - to use individually relevant literature and available online information sources. |
| Competences |
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| N/A |
| teaching methods |
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| Knowledge |
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| Lecture |
| Multimedia supported teaching |
| Self-study of literature |
| Individual study |
| Discussion |
| Skills |
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| Discussion |
| Competences |
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| Lecture supplemented with a discussion |
| Self-study of literature |
| assessment methods |
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| Knowledge |
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| Oral exam |
| Skills |
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| Oral exam |
| Competences |
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| Oral exam |
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Recommended literature
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Abir, Mordechai. Ethiopia and the Red Sea..
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Clapham, Graham. Changing Geography of the Middle East and Africa.. New York: Routledge., 1992.
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Connah, G. The Archaeology of Australia?s History. Cambridge, 1993.
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Insoll, T. The archaeology of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa. Cambridge, 2014.
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Leichtman, Mara A. Shi'i Cosmopolitanisms in Africa: Lebanese Migration and Religious Conversion in Senegal.. Bloomington: Indiana University Press., 2015.
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Nugent, P. Africa since Independence. New York, 2004.
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Phillipson, D. W. An African civilization: Aksum and the Northern Horn: 1000BC-AD1300.. Woodbridge: James Currey., 2013.
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Said, Edward W. Orientalism. New York : Vintage Books, 1979. ISBN 0-394-74067-X.
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