Unit 6: Africa, 1100–1980 CE

Connecting the concept of culture to African art is critical to understanding the art itself,as well as the role it plays in the many and varied African societies. Artistic expression is anintegral part of social life within the African continent, connecting daily practices to beliefs,systems of authority, and social structures. This unit allows students to further examine the role of art historical interpretations by exploring art and art making in Africa. Students will recognize that art often generates different theories and interpretations, that these interpretations are based on both visual and contextual analysis, and that these theoriesoften change over time as a result of influences that may include available technology, contributions of other disciplines, the availability of evidence, and even cultural biases.^{(AP® Art History CED)}