HIST 3751 - History of South Africa
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43555,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Daniel Ayana
Email: dayana@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| See Reading Below |
Required Course Readings
A. S. Mackinnon, The Making of South Africa: Culture and Politics
Mark Mathabane, Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa.
Additional Books on Reserve at the Maag Library
J. D. Omer-Cooper, History of Southern Africa, 2nd ed. Heinemann, 1994.
John A. Williams, From the South African Past: Narratives, Documents, and Debates, Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | “Why did human history unfold differently on different regions of the world” by Jared Diamond. Richard Bulliet, Columbia University, on World History (video) National Geographic documentary: ”The Journey of Man” Mackinnon, pp. 1-23;Omer-Cooper, pp. 2-16. | Unique Climate, Geography & Settlement: The Khoisan (Khoi & San) Most ancient Africans with Global Link | Due Date Sept 5,2026 11:59pm |
| 8/31 | Nothing Due This Week | ||
| 9/7 | Mackinnon, pp. 24-50; Omer-Cooper, pp. 17-34 | Dutch East India Company Settlement on Western Cape Expansion; Racial Attitudes, Conflict with Xhosa | Due Date Sept 12, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/14 | Mackinnon, pp. 24-50; Omer-Cooper, pp. 35-41 | The Boers & the Khoisan: The Rise of Plural Society, Colored People, commercial expansion and British Venture onto Western Cape | Due Date Sept 19, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/21 | Mackinnon, pp.53-78; Omer-Cooper, PP. 35-81. | The British Cape Colony “Liberalism” & Reforms 1806-1867 Abolition of Slavery, Labor Missionary Enterprises Labor and Legal Reforms Missionary Enterprises Export Trade | Dur Date Sept 26, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/28 | Mackinnon, pp. 79-111, 115-137; Omer-Cooper, PP. 52-68 | New States: Boers and the African frontier, Great Trek; Boer Republics and the British: 1830-1870 | Due Date Oct 3, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/5 | Mid-Term Exam | Topics for Revision | Due Date Oct. 10, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/12 | Mackinon, 79-111, 115- 137; Omer-Cooper, pp. 52-68 | The rise and demise of the Zulu, Missionaries, and Africans. | Due Date Oct. 17, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/19 | Mackinnon, PP. 141-184; Omer-Cooper,PP.101- 150. | Early Phase of Industrialization: Gold, the British vs the Boers & African Migrant Labor | Due Date Oct 24, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/26 | MacKinnon, pp. 185-224;Omer-Cooper, PP.154-180; | The South African War, Union & Reconstruction: British Empire vs Afrikaner Nationalism | Due Date Oct 31, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/2 | MacKinnon, pp. 185-224: Omer-Cooper, PP. 154-180; | WWII & Second Industrialization; Black Urbanization, the National Party The Evolution of Apartheid | Due Date Nov. 7, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/9 | MacKinnon, pp. 231-262; Omer-Cooper, PP. 161-220; Davenport PP. 331-37 | Apartheid and Its Three Phases 1950s-1976 | Due Date Nov. 14, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/16 | Book Report | Due Date Nov. 21,2026 11:59pm | |
| 11/30 | MacKinnon 270-296;304-349 Omer-Cooper, PP. 161-220, 274-275 | Transformation of South Africa 1976-1994; decline and end of Cold war, African resistance Mandela--de Klerk; Dissolution of Apartheid& aftermath | Due Date Dec. 5, 2026 11:59pm |
| 12/7 | Final Exam | Topics for Revision | Due Date Dec. 8, 2026 11:59pm |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.