HIS 281: Africa to 1800: Crops

3-4 page paper and 5-7 minute presentation on a crop

Questions to consider:

• What is it?  Is it called by more than one name? How many varieties are there?
• Where did it come from? If it is not indigenous to Africa, how did it get there?
• When?
• How is it used?  Who uses it?
• Is there anything interesting about it?
• What impact has this crop had on African history?  In which areas/countires?
• What is the status of the crop in Africa today?

• Find all the possible names of your crop, including common western name, scientific name, binomial name, and other synonyms
• Possible useful fields could be agriculture, anthropology, history, economics, global affairs, health and wellness, the possibilities are expansive
• Add site:.edu or site:.gov to find resources from universities and government agencies
• Search can be expanded with operators such as ""() AND OR NOT
  • Example: ("okra" OR "abelmoschus esculentus") AND Africa
  • Example: ("enset" OR "ensete" OR "abyssinian banana"  OR "ensete ventricosum") AND origin

• If crop is based in one or two countries look for a USDA alternative
• Cookbooks, they'll have more anecdotal "fun facts"