Africa and World History: From Antipathy to Synergy

In recent years, the relationship between African and World History has shifted rapidly from one of antipathy to one of engagement and synthesis. This article provides a survey of the changing relationship between African and world histories, with an emphasis on the tension between the Area Studies paradigm and the growing world history emphasis on connections and exchange across regional boundaries. A closer examination of recent exchanges and debates over the merits of this exchange is also featured. The article concludes with an examination of the relationship between African and world history as a measure of the changing nature of historical inquiry over the past century.