European Colonialism Prof. Jeffrey Auerbach Course: History 434 Office: Sierra Tower 603 Semester: Fall 2013 Hours: Tuesdays 2-4 and by appointment Time: T/Th 9:30-10:45 a.m. Phone: 818-677-3561 Location: SH 268 E-mail: jeffrey.auerbach@csun.edu Class # 18120 Description: This course explores the expansion, consolidation, management, disintegration, and impact of the modern European empires, focusing on the ambiguities of identity produced by the encounter between European, American, African, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Pacific cultures. Using primary and secondary sources, paintings, photographs, and film, we will explore how Europeans civilized themselves by constructing, denigrating, and appropriating non-european cultures, and discuss colonial and postcolonial resistance to European imperialism. Topics include cannibalism, exoticism, orientalism, primitivism, racism, and tourism. Objectives: To survey the causes, course, and consequences of European imperialism To explore the complex, multi-sided nature of colonialism from multiple perspectives To analyze the role of individual actors within the colonial sphere To examine concepts of identity (racial, national, bifurcated, post-colonial) and their historical evolution and meaning To employ a variety of evidentiary materials and to think critically about them Books: Stuart Schwartz, ed., Victors and Vanquished (Bedford, 2000) Michael Fisher, ed., The Travels of Dean Mahomet (University of California, 1997) Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Dover, 1991) Paul Gaugin, Noa, Noa: The Tahitian Journal (Dover, 1985) Mehdi Charef, Tea in the Harem (Serpent s Tail, 1989) James Lehning, European Colonialism (Cambridge, 2013) Assignments: Regular class attendance and informed, thoughtful participation (10%). Two reading worksheets, designed to help ensure that you are keeping up with the readings and reading well, to be graded on a +,, (A/B/C) basis (10% each). Two 3-4 page papers: the first on Dean Mahomet s Travels, due Oct. 22; the second on Gaugin s Noa Noa, due Nov. 19 (20% each) Take-Home Final Exam due Tuesday, Dec. 17, before noon (30%).
Course Policies: You are expected to attend each and every class, and to arrive on time, ready to take notes, having completed the assigned reading(s) for that day. More than two absences (for any reason) will adversely affect your grade for the course, as will repeated lateness. Please turn off your cell phone when you enter the classroom. There should be no text messaging during class. It is rude, distracting, and not conducive to learning. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified due date. Late papers will be marked down one-third of a grade (e.g., from an A to an A-) per day. Missed assignments, or assignments turned in more than one week late, will be entered as a zero. Papers must be word-processed, double-spaced with one-inch margins on all four sides, appropriately titled, printed, and stapled in the top left corner. Email submissions will not be accepted. In addition to a printed copy, you must also upload your paper to Moodle through Turnitin. Any student caught cheating (copying another student s blue book, using notes during an exam) or plagiarizing (copying or borrowing someone else s work, whether from books, articles, or the internet, without crediting them) will receive a failing grade for the course and be referred to the Office of Student Affairs for disciplinary action. Students with disabilities must register with the Center on Disabilities (Bayramian Hall 110). COF Staff will approve appropriate accommodations. This course will use the + / grading system. The instructor reserves the right to modify the course schedule or assignments. Students will be given adequate notice of any changes. Communication: The best way to reach me outside of class and regularly scheduled office hours is by email. While I generally respond to emails within a few hours, please allow up to 24 hours for a response. Since I am a strong believer in netiquette, please do your best to adhere to the following: Always address you emails, e.g., Dear Professor Auerbach or Hi Professor Use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Lower case lettering is fine for texting and e e cummings, but not for me. Don t expect me to know who you are by your email address (especially if it is something like loves2danz@gmail.com) or even by your first name, so sign your email at least with a first and last name. Emoticons are fine and appreciated in moderation.
Schedule of Topics and Readings Aug. 27 Aug. 29 Introduction: The Margins of Empire The Origins of European Colonialism I. Early Colonial Mentalities Case Study: Mexico Sept. 3 Portents and Preparations Schwartz, Victors and Vanquished, 1-78 Sept. 5 Sept. 10 No Class: Rosh Hashanah Encounter and Engagement Schwartz, Victors and Vanquished, 79-126 Worksheet #1 due Sept. 12 Tenochtitlan Schwartz, Victors and Vanquished, 127-213 Sept. 17 Aftermath: Empire and Opposition Schwartz, Victors and Vanquished, 214-43 The Noble Savage Sept. 19 Savagery and Cannibalism Montaigne, On Cannibals (1580) Lehning, Ch. 2-3 Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Oct. 1 Film: Black Robe Film: Black Robe The Art of Exploration in the South Pacific Lehning, Ch. 4 Diderot, Supplement to Bougainville s Voyage (1772)
II. The Age of High Imperialism Case Study: India Oct. 3 Britain in India The Travels of Dean Mahomet (1794), 1-59 Oct. 8 British India The Travels of Dean Mahomet, 60-133 Oct. 10 Indians in Britain The Travels of Dean Mahomet, 135-81 Oct. 15 Orientalism Lehning, Ch. 6 (middle section) Race and Racism Oct. 17 The Construction of Race David Hume, Of National Characters, Essays (1742) Kant, Of National Characteristics (1764) Negro, Encyclopedia Britannica (1798) Oct. 22 Race, Sexuality, and the Hottentot Venus Film: The Life and Times of Sara Baartman (1998) First Paper Due Oct. 24 Abolition Lehning, Ch. 6 (first section) The Dark Continent Oct. 29 The Scramble for Africa Lehning, Ch. 5
Oct. 31 Darkest Africa Conrad, Heart of Darkness Worksheet #2 due Nov. 5 Darkest Africa Conrad, Heart of Darkness Nov. 7 The Black Man s Burden: King Leopold s Congo Excerpts from Edward D. Morel, The Black Man s Burden (1903) Lehning, Ch. 6 (final section) Primitivism Nov. 12 Uncivilizing the Self, Civilizing the Other Paul Gaugin, Noa, Noa (1919) Lehning, Ch. 6 Nov. 14 Exoticism in the Pacific III. The Empire Strikes Back Case Study: Algeria Paul Gaugin, Noa, Noa Nov. 19 Decolonization Lehning, Ch. 7 Nov. 19 The Struggle for Algerian Independence Film: The Battle for Algiers (1965) Second Paper Due Nov. 21 Fighting (with) Terror Film: The Battle for Algiers Nov. 26 French Algeria: Behind the Veil Frantz Fanon, Algeria Unveiled, Studies in Dying Colonialism (1959)
Nov. 28 No Class: Thanksgiving Postcolonial Europe Dec. 3 Return of the Native Charef, The Tea and the Harem (1989) Dec. 5 Beurs and Pakis: Colonial Immigration in Europe Charef, The Tea and the Harem Dec. 10 Conclusion Lehning, Introduction Dec. 17 Take Home Final Due by Noon