Africa in focus: Discovery trip through history and culture in Gotha!

Africa in focus: Discovery trip through history and culture in Gotha!

On June 6, 2025, a summer school will open in Gotha that deals with courtly perceptions of Africa in the early modern period. This event is aimed at **advanced students during their master's thesis, doctoral students, postdocs and employees of museums** and similar institutions. The program receives particular attention from people who are interested in the history of perception and knowledge of Africa as well as the history of court culture. Lectures, guided tours and workshops by experts are intended to introduce participants to the holdings of the Gotha Research Library, the Friedenstein Foundation and the State Archives uni-erfurt.de reported.

The historical context of this summer school is multifaceted. Since ancient times, Africa has been considered the third continent alongside Europe and Asia, although Europeans often only knew the northern part. Maritime expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries allowed Iberian sailors to explore Africa along the coasts. The focus is on striking events such as the circumnavigation of Cape Bojador and the crossing of the equator. Africa fascinates and is at the same time a source of uncertain knowledge for the European world.

Historical circumstances in Gotha

In the Duchy of Saxony-Gotha, founded in 1640 during the Thirty Years' War, the first duke, Ernst I (1601–1675), initiated significant reforms in administration, education and coinage. He had Friedenstein Castle built as a new residence and promoted Ethiopian studies, among other things by inviting the Abyssinian clergyman Abba Gregorius. These activities demonstrate the growing interest in Africa, which extended not only to the perception of the continent but also to concrete scientific exploration. The ducal library collected travel reports from travelers such as Johann Michael Wansleben and grew significantly in the 18th century.

The questions that the summer school raises are complex. They can be divided into four central areas: the reasons for the interest in the court in Gotha, the functions of the collections, the typicality of this interest for the early modern period and the special case of pre-modern court culture in Gotha.

Africa in historical context

The history of Africa is shaped by different cultural regions and the influence of different powers over the centuries. The continent, as the cradle of humanity, offers the origin of written and archaeological finds with its early human ancestors. From important civilizations such as Egypt, which existed as early as 3100 BC. From being united under Menes in the 1st century BC to major trading powers such as Carthage and the Kingdom of Aksum, Africa's history stretches back thousands of years. The Bantu peoples spread from the highlands and led to significant social changes towards the end of antiquity and the Middle Ages, such as bpb.de describes.

Colonialism, which gained momentum in the 19th century, led to profound political and economic changes. Previously, European activities were limited to trading posts on the coast, before a real takeover with advances in military technology followed. The Berlin Conference of 1884 organized the division of Africa among European powers and created new borders that often contradicted ethnic and historical realities. Colonial rule and exploitation not only led to conflicts between peoples, but also to a new African elite that emerged under pressure from colonial administrations.

Overall, it can be said that the summer school in Gotha not only looks at historical contexts and cultural perceptions, but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between Europe and Africa.