While the single most consequential event in Africa during the 19th century was European colonization of the continent at the end of the century, most of the 1800s were characterized by tremendous growth and innovation in African political and economic institutions, as well as the expansion of literacy and the development of enduring intellectual traditions. Many African societies were making strides toward the creation of new self-governing nations over the course of the 19th century, as the ending of the transatlantic slave trade made way for the development of new industries and commercial systems. This panel will explore African advances and innovations taking place prior to European colonization and interrogate the complicated relationship between Europe and Africa in the decades before the 1880s.
Please email Rebecca Shumway at shumwayr@uwm.edu by March 1, 2025 if you are interested in joining.