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African civilisation
AAFS 286
Fall 2021
African Civilizations: Take-Home Midterm Exam
For this class, your midterm exam will be a take-home writing assignment. You will respond to one essay from each category, for a total of two essays. For each essay, you should use examples of specific kingdoms, people, events, and processes whenever possible. Each essay should be roughly 2.5-to-3 pages.
The exam will be due via Blackboard on Thursday, October 28, by 11:59 PM. However, if neeed, you can have an extension, no questions asked, until Sunday, October 31, by 11:59 PM.
Essay 1: Comparing African civilizations (choose one of the following)
What major commonalities and differences do we see in the early African states/kingdoms we have studied so far this semester? What patterns do we see in early African state-making?
Compare at least two regions that we have studied in class so far. Outside of politics (covered in question #1), what similarities and differences do we see between these societies? How did people live, worship, and work in different parts of the African continent?
Essay 2: Regional connections (choose one of the following)
What connections can we draw between different regions within the African continent? How were they connected through trade, language, religion, and more? How do these examples help us think of Africa in less static, geographically restricted ways than are traditionally presented?
In this course so far, we have discussed Africa’s regional relationships through trade, religion, etc. How did Africans both shape the wider world and how were they shaped by their regional connections?
OverviewDrawing on the course readings and lectures, you will make an argument that answers the questions posed in the questions above. With only 2.5 or so pages, you will not be able to give every example possible, or to give too many larger arguments. It is best to choose a few points that you can then give specific examples for, and analyze those examples. In discussing these questions, you will exclusively draw on and cite the course materials. You must use both the readings and the lectures to do so.
For each question, you should use concrete examples and information in support of your point. Any specific examples or statistics you can give will only help justify your argument. However, you must explain and analyze that data, as it may not be self-evident. Case studies of particular locations that we discussed in class will be helpful in making your points clearer.
List of Readings and Lectures by Region
Kemet
Lectures 5 and 6 (September 7/9)
Readings: J. Yoyotte, “Pharonic Egypt,” and A. H. Zayed, “Egypt’s relations”
Ghana, Mali, and Songhay
Lectures 7, 8, and 9 (September 14/16/21)
Readings: Sunjata and Leo Africanus, “The Western Sudan”
Ethiopia
Lectures, 10, 11, and 12 (September 23/28/30)
Reading: The Life of Walatta-Petros
Kongo AND Great Zimbabwe
Lecture 13 (October 5)
East Africa/Swahili City-States
Lecture 14/15 (October 7/14)
Readings: Tuan Ch’eng Shih, “China’s Discovery in Africa, 863,” Thomas Spear, “Early Swahili History Reconsidered,” Ibn Battuta, “The East African Coast, 1331,” and Duarte Barbosa, “The East Coast of Africa.”
ExpectationsEach essay will be, at minimum, 2.5 pages long, double-spaced, with size 12 font and no extra spaces before the paper or between paragraphs. Please start a new essay on a new page. The only thing at the top of your exam will be your name and “African Civilizations Mid-Term Exam,” followed by the question #. You will submit the exam as a Microsoft Word document.
Each essay should consist of:
A clear, brief introduction that states your argument, and gives an overview of the issues you will be discussing. Roughly 1/4 to 1/2 page.
At least two body paragraphs that delve into the different points that you make in your introduction. Each paragraph should be a part of your larger argument, as stated in your thesis statement/introduction. For each paragraph, you should have a clear argument that lays out the key points for that section, stating the relevant sub-points you will be discussing. For most—if not all—of these sub-points, you will need specific information and examples—from both the lectures and the readings—to help back up your argument for its significance. That information should be clearly analyzed so that its relevance is apparent. Roughly 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 pages.
A conclusion that re-states these major arguments, and some concluding thoughts that tie these points together in explaining your larger conclusions. Roughly 1/4 to 1/2 page.
Citations
When citing the lectures, please simply put at the end of the sentence (Lecture). For the readings, the author’s last name, and a page number—when applicable—is sufficient (for example, Ibn Battuta, 21—or Sunjata, 109).
Grading Criteria
Each essay will be graded on the following criteria:
Does the paper meet the requirements for the assignment? A minimum of 2.5 pages per assignment, citing both the lectures and readings.
Are your arguments well-made/chosen? Do you have a clear thesis that explains what you will be discussing over the course of the essay?
Is the essay well organized? Is your argument broken up into a series of parts/case studies that connect together?
Do you use good evidence in support of your argument, and analyze that evidence?
Is the writing clear, well written, and free of spelling/grammar mistakes?
Determining Databases and Data Communications. Understanding technology is vital when overseeing companies that have PC techn
Determining Databases and Data Communications
Name
Affiliation
Understanding technology is vital when overseeing companies that have PC technology as their spine. Knowing this data helps the workers in charge of data administration to settle on educated decisions about how to execute technology. These decision permit the manager to effectively utilize time and assets as a part of clearly threatening errands. This is indicated in the two situations (Rahimi & Haug, 2010).
In the first situation, a marketing partner of a customer electronic company is given the assignment of keep up booths for exchange shows from the earliest starting point to the end of the show, they are additionally capable to comprehend any issues identified with the item shipment that may emerge. Comprehending what data is imperative in verifying the right apparatuses are utilized. Circumstances like those call for itemized arrangements of performances, electronic and booths are vital, likewise how the equipment will be delivered and got. Case in point if a show is to be composed in Dubai with a necessity of one booth and presentation. The showcasing aide must be sure that the booths with the presentation must be gotten to the area time furthermore be brought down and sent upheld for future use in the company. With comprehending what the following number from the mail station is a tab can be continued the bundle through all phases of transport.
Every show normally needs certain instruments for keeping up data and following the electronic. Exceed expectations is a decent approach to begin the following. Then again, it may not be helpful with substantial arrangements of information and information that fluctuate. A database possibly a more helpful decision in light of the fact that it can store a wide range of information and the promoting colleague can create reports for future reference while rolling out improvements (changing the shipment time to verify it lands on time) In cases like this where stand out individual is in charge of a vast database it is a smart thought to utilize a database administration frameworks that are accessible over all branch of an association. This gives all the control to one individual for a few offices. This additionally counteracts disarray when numerous workers meet up to oversee data.
At the point when the marketing manager confronts the assignment of keep up and overseeing mass information identified with the show, there requirements to be a choice emotionally supportive network (DSS) to help them simultaneously. A DSS can be portrays as a PC framework fit for helping in the assessment and determination of activity plans by information gathered from past dealings of the company. The information is then examined by measurable instruments for information understanding. The methodology can encourage give significant experiences to marketing aide in enhancing future shows.
In the second situation, the goal is the best possible administration of a counseling group comprising of seven individuals with technology. Some of them work in the workplace and some telecommute. In place for the business to run easily everybody need to be come to with equivalent exertion. A way that this could happen is the utilization of a Wide Area Network or a WAN that could join the workers crosswise over particular areas. Despite the workers’ physical area, all representatives would have the capacity to achieve the same data. Most counseling activities have strict due dates and all the representatives must be permitted access to equipment like the printers and scanners joined with the system. This could make some security concerns while taking a shot at the WAN. It is conceivable that programmers could break the system and put malignant malware or infections on the gadgets. This obviously could be avoided with specific projects that ensure against malware and infections. A remote association is likewise a smart thought when requiring remote access. Remote is like WAN in that it can give access to representatives to data secured in the work environment.
A virtual private system or a VPN needs to be introduced to manage attentiveness toward protection. A VPN is great in light of the fact that it withhold touchy data from non-representatives by issuing them get to rights. This assists with occurrences, for example, malware or infection project assaults which could influence usefulness. Cost and gimmicks are essential elements when picking which course to go. The data with respect to remote systems needs to help in picking the right remote system can be put away in an Excel report. The cost can’t be the integral element when buying. Velocity and security gimmicks are additionally vital when choosing. It is imperative to make a rundown organizing and posting gimmicks of the system essential for the company. Thusly a remote system can be found at an insignificant expense (Malecha, Morrisett, Shinnar & Wisnesky, 2010).
Learning of technology that are made utilization of in an company can go far in helping bosses and managers settle on the devices to be utilized as a part of a more productive and brilliant way. The company in this case use query system as well as entry forms. In the first situation the promoting right hand has the capacity utilize a database to arrange the data requirement for the exchange show. The second situation shows where WAN and remote systems administration empowers a counseling group to get to information safely and on a strict time plan with no respects to their physical area. These situations demonstrate the helpfulness of technology in a business setting (Lehner et al,. 2012).
It is worth to consider that company should ensure coming up with an ideal database that is multi-user. This will allow the employees to use the system as well hence during delegation of duties by the manager, data and information access will be easy to get. In addition, the company should also not shy away from personal database especially for the manager. This will help him/her to manage other databases, in this case he will act as the administrator. On board, the company should ensures that it has an enterprise database because it has more merits as compared to personal database. An enterprise database has more security features as compared to personal database hence the best of implementation.
References
Färber, F., Cha, S. K., Primsch, J., Bornhövd, C., Sigg, S., & Lehner, W. (2012). SAP HANA database: data management for modern business applications. ACM Sigmod Record, 40(4), 45-51.
Malecha, G., Morrisett, G., Shinnar, A., & Wisnesky, R. (2010, January). Toward a verified relational database management system. In ACM Sigplan Notices (Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 237-248). ACM.
Rahimi, S. K., & Haug, F. S. (2010). Distributed database management systems: A Practical Approach. John Wiley & Sons.
African art
African art
Introduction
Africa is very dynamic in culture which has a rich history in arts. Considering the dynamic status in the African culture, the African art took a very different direction in that because of the different cultures, there were different considerations in their arts. Precisely, every culture or ethnicity could be possibly having its own art. In this paper I will take I to account some specific objects and may be practices that were evidenced in specific African communities to try establish the African art.
In Africa, there are some objects that are used for religious purposes. The fetish use has been rampant and very valuable in most of the communities. In their own perspective, these fetishes were majorly used with an aim to protect the individual for families or even communities that used them. Generally, there were no common fetishes to communities. However, these fetishes almost served the same roles in the African society i.e. protecting people against the harm of the evil spirits, may be to cure illness and also to guard against the bad deed of other people as well as decision makings in arguments. In this sense, fetishes were very effective and thus very powerful among Africans. (Monica, 56)
Among the Nkisi people, there was the nkondi which was basically responsible for hunting down people who did wrong in the community. These included thieves and other people who could be responsible for trouble in the society. Basically, nkondi was used to punish who could take false oaths and defaulters of treaties. Charging the nkondi into action was through invocations and provocations. For provocations, gunpowder was exploded in front of it and nails could also be hammered in it.
Despite the fact that in black Africa, there is magic but there are ranks for instance a witch doctor is a special person who specializes in talking to the veil powers and connecting them to the people. In most cases, the diviner who can also be the diviner, could act in favor of the whole community. In most of these communities, there were very little wood carvings, however there was special treatments to the trees and incase there was to be carvings, both the carver and the fetishist, Nganga, had to be there during carving.
There were several artistic practices in different communities in Africa for example there is the Eri Ibeji of the Yoruba of Nigeria who has a role to play in twin child births, the Bomana, helmet mask that is associated with the Komo power in the Mande culture who could be accompanied with dance and songs. Sacrifices could also be offered to invoke the spirits for appointments in the society. (Monica, 71)
Different objects of art
In African art, the different objects of art did convey some royal powers though in different ways. In the Asante, the golden stool called Bamum is believed to be heaven sent to the first Asante who is the asantehene, the king who is the osi-tutu. This golden stool does unite the people. For one to be the king he had to be lowered then raised over the stool and without the stool, no one could be the king. This stool is very important to the Asante and very sacred that no one could just sit on it and it is given the strictest protection than any other place or people in the land. This can be traced back i9n the 1896 when the Asante allowed their king to go back when it was now clear that they were losing the war against the British. Also in the year 1900, the Asante decided to plan for a war when Hudson demanded to sit on the stool. Still the same, in the year 1920 there was this African group builder who accidentally came across the golden stool and decided to take off its gold ornaments. These people were given a death penalty according to the Asante laws. In Asante’s kingdom, the golden stool is still a focal point as far as power and succession are concerned.
In addition to the as antes golden stool in Asante, there is also the throne in the Bamum state. The throne is considered to be very special in that the monarchy presented itself a festival at the palace of Nsa’ngu. This festival is always celebrated at the beginning of every January. This festival is known as Nja and it is an affirmation to the solidarity and also the wealth that is available in the Bamum state. The place with the throne is considered to be the place that should have good things, valuable bids among others. The throne is a respected place that only signifies power. These among other were some of the objects that come vividly to be used in connection to the royal power in African culture.
Conclusion
Africa as a continent has very many practices that prove to very independent and this is where its dynamite comes from. Considering all aspects of arts, we find that Africa has got rich arts but very many and may not necessarily be the same..
Works cited:
Eglash, R. Indigenous design. Rutgers, 1999Monica V. et al. A History of Art in Africa. Prentice Hall, New York, 2001Riley, M. Art in the West. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2006.