From Earth to Empire: Cocoa and Coffee in African History
Dive into Africa’s past through the commodities that put it at the centre of world trade: cocoa and coffee. Explore how they transformed societies, fuelled nation-building, and triggered economic and labour activism.
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This course introduces students to the history of Africa from the nineteenth century onwards through a study of the continent’s principal exports: cocoa and coffee. Students will gain an understanding of how the cultivation of and trade in these commodities shaped African society. This includes shifts in political and social power, fuelling nationalism and post-independence nation-building. The course will track the differing impacts of these commodities through time, including changes in land use and land tenure; patterns of labour migration; and the role of children and unfree labour. Students will have the opportunity to explore ideas such as the history of cash-crop capitalism, monocrop agriculture, neocolonialism, economic activism, and environmental activism in the modern history of Africa.
What will we cover?
The course consists of the following two sessions:
Cocoa
Coffee
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
By the end of this course, students should understand:
Cocoa and nation-building in West Africa
Coffee and nation-building in East Africa
The rise of the mono-crop economies in the 20th century
Changing patterns of labour, land use, and land tenure
African children and unfree labour in the plantation economy
Economic activism and the “free trade” revolution
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for complete beginners or those with a curiosity about the topic.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The sessions will start with a lecture to introduce that week’s topic. This will be followed by interactive source analysis, using primary and secondary sources to explore that week’s topic through group discussion. Sources could include maps, photographs of artefacts, drawings, diary entries, and extracts from historical articles.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/from-earth-to-empire-cocoa-and-coffee-in-african-history2822421From Earth to Empire: Cocoa and Coffee in African Historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/modern-african-history-hwh178-1024.jpg3939GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/African history/Courses/vm/Black history month/Courses/Online courses228511771178197613478173112285117711781653<p>Dive into Africa’s past through the commodities that put it at the centre of world trade: cocoa and coffee. Explore how they transformed societies, fuelled nation-building, and triggered economic and labour activism. </p>002822382From Earth to Empire: Cocoa and Coffee in African History3939https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/modern-african-history-hwh178-1024.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-06-16T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHWH2563939From Earth to Empire: Cocoa and Coffee in African History392539Apeike Umolufrom-earth-to-empire-cocoa-and-coffee-in-african-history/hwh256-2526<p>Dive into Africa’s past through the commodities that put it at the centre of world trade: cocoa and coffee. Explore how they transformed societies, fuelled nation-building, and triggered economic and labour activism. </p>0000-Available|2026-06-16 00:00:00<p>This course introduces students to the history of Africa from the nineteenth century onwards through a study of the continent’s principal exports: cocoa and coffee. Students will gain an understanding of how the cultivation of and trade in these commodities shaped African society. This includes shifts in political and social power, fuelling nationalism and post-independence nation-building. The course will track the differing impacts of these commodities through time, including changes in land use and land tenure; patterns of labour migration; and the role of children and unfree labour. Students will have the opportunity to explore ideas such as the history of cash-crop capitalism, monocrop agriculture, neocolonialism, economic activism, and environmental activism in the modern history of Africa. </p><p>Dive into Africa’s past through the commodities that put it at the centre of world trade: cocoa and coffee. Explore how they transformed societies, fuelled nation-building, and triggered economic and labour activism. </p><p>The course consists of the following two sessions:</p><ol><li>Cocoa</li><li>Coffee</li></ol><p>By the end of this course, students should understand:</p><ul><li>Cocoa and nation-building in West Africa</li><li>Coffee and nation-building in East Africa</li><li>The rise of the mono-crop economies in the 20th century</li><li>Changing patterns of labour, land use, and land tenure </li><li>African children and unfree labour in the plantation economy</li><li>Economic activism and the “free trade” revolution</li></ul><p text-align:justify=""> </p><p>The course is suitable for complete beginners or those with a curiosity about the topic.</p><p>The sessions will start with a lecture to introduce that week’s topic. This will be followed by interactive source analysis, using primary and secondary sources to explore that week’s topic through group discussion. Sources could include maps, photographs of artefacts, drawings, diary entries, and extracts from historical articles. </p><p>No. Pen and paper if you wish to take notes. </p><p>Please see the Africa section of our website. </p>HistoryAfrican historyvirtual393925HWH256NONETue16/06/26 - 23/06/2619:30 - 21:3019:3021:302 sessions (over 2 weeks)21 to 4 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineApeike UmoluBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-16T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Culture, history & humanities3939From Earth to Empire: Cocoa and Coffee in African Historyfrom-earth-to-empire-cocoa-and-coffee-in-african-history/hwh256-2526<p>Dive into Africa’s past through the commodities that put it at the centre of world trade: cocoa and coffee. Explore how they transformed societies, fuelled nation-building, and triggered economic and labour activism. </p>0000-Available|2026-06-16 00:00:00<p>This course introduces students to the history of Africa from the nineteenth century onwards through a study of the continent’s principal exports: cocoa and coffee. Students will gain an understanding of how the cultivation of and trade in these commodities shaped African society. This includes shifts in political and social power, fuelling nationalism and post-independence nation-building. The course will track the differing impacts of these commodities through time, including changes in land use and land tenure; patterns of labour migration; and the role of children and unfree labour. Students will have the opportunity to explore ideas such as the history of cash-crop capitalism, monocrop agriculture, neocolonialism, economic activism, and environmental activism in the modern history of Africa. </p><p>Dive into Africa’s past through the commodities that put it at the centre of world trade: cocoa and coffee. Explore how they transformed societies, fuelled nation-building, and triggered economic and labour activism. </p><p>The course consists of the following two sessions:</p><ol><li>Cocoa</li><li>Coffee</li></ol><p>By the end of this course, students should understand:</p><ul><li>Cocoa and nation-building in West Africa</li><li>Coffee and nation-building in East Africa</li><li>The rise of the mono-crop economies in the 20th century</li><li>Changing patterns of labour, land use, and land tenure </li><li>African children and unfree labour in the plantation economy</li><li>Economic activism and the “free trade” revolution</li></ul><p text-align:justify=""> </p><p>The course is suitable for complete beginners or those with a curiosity about the topic.</p><p>The sessions will start with a lecture to introduce that week’s topic. This will be followed by interactive source analysis, using primary and secondary sources to explore that week’s topic through group discussion. Sources could include maps, photographs of artefacts, drawings, diary entries, and extracts from historical articles. </p><p>No. Pen and paper if you wish to take notes. </p><p>Please see the Africa section of our website. </p>HistoryAfrican historyconfigurable
19761178African historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/african-history1/2/285/1177/1178/19761/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/African history
