Africa in focus: Gotha combines history and modern research!

Africa in focus: Gotha combines history and modern research!

The summer school is being held in the city of Gotha on topics relating to the history of perception and knowledge in Africa. This event is sponsored by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation and is aimed at advanced students, doctoral candidates, postdocs and museum employees. Participants have the opportunity to get to know the holdings of the Gotha Research Library, the Friedenstein Foundation and the Gotha State Archives in detail. Important questions are addressed, including the functions of knowledge and object collections in history and their relevance to today's scientific practice.

Gotha is of historical importance in the context of African research. The place has a strong heritage dating back to the time of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, which was founded in 1640. During the Thirty Years' War, Duke Ernst I (1601–1675) used this opportunity to reform the administration and the school and coin systems. During his reign there was also intensive support for research into Ethiopia. The historian Job Ludolf (1624-1704) was a key figure in the establishment of Ethiopian studies, and Abba Gregorius (1595-1648) was invited to give a first-hand account of Ethiopian Christians.

The long history of African research

Since Greco-Roman antiquity, Africa has been considered the third continent alongside Europe and Asia. Only the northern part of Africa was familiar to Europeans, while the regions south of the Sahara remained unknown to them. The maritime expansion of Iberian sailors in the 15th and 16th centuries led to the first explorations along the coasts of Africa. Important events during this period included circumnavigating Cape Bojador, crossing the Equator, and circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope. These voyages of discovery took place at a time when the discovery of America was the focus of European attention.

Interest in Africa has always been characterized by a mixture of uncertainty and fascination. There were beliefs about a mythical Christian priest-king John as well as belief in rich gold lands. At the same time, there were also ideas about hostile regions with strange animals and people. This mixed perception reflects the complexity that has shaped the European perspective on the continent over the centuries.

The narrative of the “Scramble for Africa” began later, as part of the Berlin Congo Conference of 1884 to 1885, which focused on the formal division of the continent by European powers. Historians reflect that the exploration of Africa in the second half of the 19th century was often supported by international collaborations. Geographical societies created networks in which scientific advances were widely shared. In Gotha, the Justus Perthes publishing house made these developments possible by publishing “Petermann's Geographical Notices” (PGM), which documented important results of geographical research.

The legacy of African research

The research unit at the History Seminar at the University of Hanover plays a central role in German African research. She has been considered a pioneer since 1976 and has focused on researching endogenous developments in African societies. These research approaches address the political, social and cultural dynamics of African modernity and its unequal relationships with Europe, America and Asia.

The thematic focus ranges from social history to the effects of colonial legacies and the challenges of climate change. The research activities are not only aimed at interdisciplinary studies in Atlantic Studies, but also at exchanges with African universities and institutions. These cooperation projects include study visits, joint research and lecturer exchanges with universities in Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa.

In summary, the upcoming summer school in Gotha shows how deeply rooted research and collecting traditions exist in the city. It highlights the continued relevance of African research and the need to develop a nuanced understanding of the continent and its history.