Action Plan for 10/10/11 - 07/11/11

OVERALL MONTHLY OBJECTIVE:

Carry on research, gather information on African perspectives of colonialism and draw up rough draft of dissertation document.


Week Commencing 10th:

Carry on taking notes from "Africa: A Modern History" by Guy Arnold

Week Commencing 17th:

Carry on and complete note taking from "Africa: A Modern History" by Guy Arnold and commence note taking from "African Perspectives on Colonialism" by A. Adu Boahen.

Week Commencing 24th:

Carry on & complete note taking from "African Perspectives on Colonialism" by A. Adu Boahen.

Week Commencing 31st:

Draw up rough plan of dissertation, draft the introduction.



What have I learnt this month?
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Background Research - The Scramble for Africa - Seminar Studies - M. E. Chamberlain

I read this book over the summer of 2011. The fact it was written being aimed at undergraduate students suggested to me that it would go in depth into how, when and why the Europeans colonised Africa and this proved to be the case. It looked at the colonisation and scramble for the continent from the viewpoints of Europeans, Africans and also from a balanced perspective. However the book looks at understanding and detailing the actual "event" of the scramble and doesn't go into enough depth of all of the long term impacts this had on Africa, and I will need to find resources which cover a wider length of time and come to a conclusion regarding the impact of Europeans; alternatively I will need to compile information from a wider range of resources which cover the length of time needed and the impacts seen in modern-day African society.

Background Research - The Exploration of Africa, from Cairo to the Cape - by New Horizons

I completed reading this book on the 6th August 2011. I found this book an interesting insight into the initial exploration of Africa by the European & Arabian powers and whilst structuralism isn't a historiographical viewpoint that I usually support, the actions of the explorers has proven to be a good foundation for the rest of my independent research. By nature of the book there is bias towards the viewpoint of the Europeans which means I will have to obtain notes and research from the African viewpoint but nevertheless it gave me an extended insight into the role of Social Darwinism in European opinions of Africa in the 19th & 20th century, and it also rose interesting points regarding the differing structures of society and nationhood in Europe & Africa.

Whilst it's unlikely that the entire book will be relevant to my EPQ there are certain sections or quotes that I might be able to use, and regardless it gave me a solid foundation to commence the rest of my research.