This course provides a critical, objective, and balanced examination of South African history from the seventeenth century to the present, based upon a combination of lectures, seminar readings, and discussions, and drawing upon primary documents, literary works, and films about South Africa. South Africa's complex history of social competition, conflict and cooperation provides students the opportunity to explore in greater depth the history of one of the world's most notorious states. Themes and topics studied include: white settlement and race relations, the impact of industrialization, apartheid, and South Africa from a global perspective.