History without Documents

Catalog description

History without Documents is an exploration of the potential and techniques of non-documentary history. How do we study the history of those without written records? This course explores the potential of historical analysis using sources from art, language, material culture, and spoken words. Case studies will introduce students to the basic principles and techniques of historical linguistics, material culture, oral history, and visual history analysis. Class examples will focus on case-studies in African history; however the course’s techniques and themes connect to many other historical and social science topics. No prior African history coursework is required.