Introduction to the Module
This teaching material is prepared for a history course given to Students of Grade Twelve. The purpose is to help students understand a history of Africa and World from modern times to 1990s as a base for shaping and bettering the future. The module generally focuses on major topics in the history of World and Africa including social, cultural, economic, and political developments and their interrelations thereof. The contents of the module consider the chronology and thematic relations of events in time and space.
The module is divided into five units each of which has its own specific objectives. The first unit identify factors that contribute to the growth of nationalism; appreciate the existing technological advancement of the capitalist economy; make a comparative analysis of Italy’s and Germany’s unification. Based on these historical backgrounds the second unit discuss about World War I and its immediate aftermath. The alliance systems of World War I, the causes, course, and effects of the war, and the peace settlement are discussed in detail. This unit also explain about the Russian Revolution of 1917. Another important lesson is the inter-war period, which is the period between World War I and World War II in this unit. This period witnessed the Great Depression and the rise of dictators, who eventually led the world again into another major war, i.e., World War II. Accordingly, this unit explain about the rise of Fascism and Nazism in Italy and Germany.
Then the third unit discuss about the consequences of World War II and major developments of that happened soon after the end of the war including the formation of the United Nations Organization, the post-war global socio-economic recovery and developments, the Cold War realities and the relations between the capitalist and communist blocs, the main characteristic features of the Cold War and military blocs, as well as economic groupings. Besides, this unit explain about the Middle East, the Arabo-Israeli conflict , the causes that brought the Communist Bloc to an end and the consequences of the dissolution of the Soviet Union on global political development. Finally, the opportunities and problems resulting from the fall of Communism and major developments after the collapse of Communism are the major points to be deals with in this lesson.
The fourth unit seeks to discuss the main historical developments in Africa from the 1880s to the 1960s. The period of European colonization is the focus of this unit and involves lessons such as: the Process of Colonization, African Resistance against Colonial Expansion, Colonial Administration and the Colonial States. Based on these historical backgrounds in the fifth unit, you identify the main historical developments on the continent of Africa since the 1960s. It studies the history of the newly independent African states. The topics included in this unit are the road to independence and the rise of independent states in Africa, politics in the independent African states, the economy and society in independent Africa, the cold war in Africa, Pan-Africanism, and the transition from the Organization of African Unity to the African Union.
Key Terminology and Concepts
- History
- Modern World History
- Colonial African History
- Post Colonial African History
History is the study of past events. People know what happened in the past by looking at things from the past including sources (like books, newspapers, scripts and letters), buildings and different types of artifacts (like pottery, tools, coins and human or animal remains.)
The modern era or the modern period is the current historical period of human history. It was originally applied to the history of Europe and Western history for events that came after the Middle Ages, often from around the year 1500. From the 1990s, it is more common among historians to refer to the period after the Middle Ages and up to the 19th century as the early modern period.
The period of colonial rule in Africa came late and did not last very long. Africa was conquered by European imperial powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1960s, it was mostly over. ‘Colonialism in Africa’ considers how this period shaped African history. Colonialism was not just about the actions of the Europeans, it was also about the actions of the Africans and what they thought.
The postcolonial history of Africa spans the postcolonial, neocolonial, and contemporary period in the history of Africa. The decolonization of Africa started with Libya in 1951, although Liberia, South Africa, Egypt and few others were already independent. Many countries followed in the 1950s and 1960s, with a peak in 1960 with the Year of Africa, which saw 17 African nations declare independence, including a large part of French West Africa. Most of the remaining countries gained independence throughout the 1960s, although some colonizers (Portugal in particular) were reluctant to relinquish sovereignty, resulting in bitter wars of independence which lasted for a decade or more.
Module Objectives
After the successful completion of this module you will be able to:
- Explain the various economic, political and social philosophies developed in Europe and their impacts on the rest of the world;
- Describe the theoretical foundations of Capitalism and Marxian Economics
- Explain global socio-economic conditions during the interwar period;
- Analyze the nature and consequences of the Russian Revolution;
- Denounce the human and material costs of the two world wars;
- Evaluate the Scio-economic features of the world in the post WWII;
- Examine the political condition of the world during the cold war;
- Assess the sweeping changes that took place in the contemporary world; and
- Assess the political and socio-economic developments in the Middle East
- Examine the colonial social, economic and political administration;
- Identify the strength and weaknesses of African resistance to colonial rule;
- Evaluate the performance of African earlier political leaders in transforming the new nations;
- Examine neo-colonialism and the indirect domination of old colonizers on liberated Africans;
- Trace the origin and development of African regionalism and integration and the emergent OAU and AU and subsequent challenges;
- Differentiate the concepts of peace and security in the African context and the African peace and security architecture to ensure these issues;
- Identify the major environmental challenges that Africa is facing and the coping strategies employed by Africans.
Activities in this Module
This module is comprised of knowledge, values and skills, and aims to prepare students for active, responsible participation. It extends learning beyond the curriculum and classroom to all activities inside and outside school. In addition, it is highly dependent on interactive teaching, which requires discussion, debate and the creation of many opportunities for students to participate effectively.
Module Contents
Unit 1: Development of Capitalism & Nationalism from 1815 to 1914
- Development of Capitalism
- The Industrial Revolution
- Nationalism
- Unification of Italy
- Unification of Germany
- The American Civil War
- The Eastern Question
Unit 2: Society and Politics in the Age of World Wars, 1914 – 1945
- World War I and Its Settlement
- The Russian Revolution of 1917
- Interwar Period: Capitalist Economy,
- Fascism and Nazism and World War II
Unit 3: Global and Regional Developments Since 1945
- The United Nations Organization (the UN)
- The Post-War Global Socio- Economic Recovery and Developments,
- The Cold War Realities
- Situations in Asia , Middle East
- The Dissolution of the Communist Bloc and the Aftermath
Unit 4: Africa and the Colonial Experience (1880s – 1960s)
- The Era of “Legitimate Trade” and Colonial Empire
- African Resistance against Colonial Expansion
- Colonial Administration and the Colonial States
Unit 5: Africa since the 1960s
- The Road to & the Rise of Independent States in Africa
- Politics, Economy and Society in Independent Africa
- The Cold War and Africa,
- Pan-Africanism and Organization of African Union
Module Assessment Method
- Quizzes, Tests and assignments
- Mid-term exam
- Final exam
Reference Materials
- History Grade 12 Student Text Book Based on New Curriculum
- Extreme History for Grade 11-12
- Alpha History for Grade 11-12
- Lowe and Travnor, Mastering Modern World History, London: MacMillan Education, 2nd ed – July 28, 2022.
Instructor Information
Name: Mengistu Nega Mitiku
mnmengistu87@gmail.com
Phone: +251934459494
+251967787086
