11-Week Lecture Series on African Development & Economic History (Free Access)

Teaching Material

African History through the lens of Economics

Bachelor, MasterFull CoursePhilosophical and Historical Aspects> 4hElias Papaioannou, Leonard Wantchekon, Stelios Michalopoulos, and Nathan Nunn

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Summary

This page contains comprehensive course materials from the Wheeler Africa Course, an 11-week academic lecture series on African development and history. It includes recorded lectures, slides, and Q&A sessions covering precolonial Africa, slave trades, colonization, decolonization, and contemporary challenges. The course features prominent scholars examining African political organization, economic development, social structures, and future prospects through historical and economic perspectives.

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How to use

This open source course provides students with a deep understanding of African development through historical, economic, and political lenses. Students will develop competencies in analyzing how precolonial structures, slave trades, colonization, and post-independence policies have shaped contemporary African development challenges and opportunities.
The structured progression from precolonial history through contemporary development issues allows it to be used sequentially or in thematic segments. Faculty can incorporate selected lectures as supplements to existing courses on global development, economic history, or comparative political institutions.
Faculty gets access to the comprehensive materials provided for each session, including lecture slides, recordings, and Q&A documents. Consider organizing discussion groups after students view selected lectures, with guided questions focusing on connecting historical patterns to contemporary outcomes.
The course connects to a wealth of related research by the contributing scholars, including foundational works on the economic consequences of slavery, colonial institutions, and contemporary development initiatives. Students can be directed to the presenters’ research publications for deeper exploration of specific topics.

Teaching format tip

Full Course

Coordinate sequencing with other curricular elements to avoid overlap and ensure progression. Students should engage with comprehensive learning objectives through varied assessment methods. Monitor workload distribution and provide academic support resources. Design integration opportunities that connect course content to broader academic programs and professional development goals.

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