Africa’s economic development challenges cannot be understood without looking back to the history of the continent. This course provides an introduction to the economic history of sub-Saharan Africa since the beginning of the Atlantic era and examines how major shifts in both African economies and the international economy influenced patterns of economic development on the continent. Focusing on the longue durée, the course addresses issues which remain current in studies of African development, including environmental challenges, the structure of state institutions and their impact on growth, the responses of Africans to changing global economies, and the impact of economic change on social structures