Africa: From Human Origins to Modern Times

Although African Studies is often overlooked, Africa is essential to understanding today’s world. The continent is the birthplace of our species, home to ancient civilizations, deeply connected to the United States, highly rich in critical mineral resources, strategically positioned with five major maritime chokepoints, central to global rivalries, and vital to international security. This four-session class explores four themes: 1) basic physical geography, climatology, demography, and resources; 2) human origins and ancient and medieval African history; 3) the slave trade, exploration, colonialism, and resistance; and 4) post-colonial Africa and the major issues of modern Africa.

Richard Lobban, Ph.D., professor emeritus of anthropology and African studies at Rhode Island College, serves as adjunct professor of African studies at the Naval War College. He has a master’s degree from Temple University and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and has taught at the American University in Cairo, Tufts University and Dartmouth College, among others. He has conducted field research in Tunis and Egypt and has been excavating a temple in Sudan for 10 years. Richard is widely published in urban and complex societies, informal sector economy, gender, ethnicity, race and class. He often serves as a subject matter expert and court-appointed expert witness in political asylum cases for refugees from Africa and the Middle East.