ABSTRACT: This thesis seeks to examine the evolution of the study of gender prehistory from the latter half of the nineteenth century to the latter half of the twentieth century. The first chapter discusses the development of the late nineteenth century myth of matriarchal prehistory. The matriarchal thesis was cradled comfortably within evolutionism, however wielded most strongly over time by socialists. The second chapter explores the internal theoretical shifts in academia and the external cultural and societal shifts which discredited the matriarchal myth and pushed the study of prehistory to the wayside during the first half of the twentieth century. The third chapter strives to explain the impact of the second-wave feminist movement on gender prehistory in relation to the androcentric scholarship from the past century and a half. Androcentrism permeated the scholarship on gender prehistory for much of its existence, however in the latter half of the twentieth century, feminist scholars emphasized the biological and cultural contributions of prehistoric women to human evolution. Gender prehistory remained a highly speculative study because it was limited by a lack of substantial evidence. In this regard, gender prehistory has been especially biased as some scholars have projected onto the relatively unknown remote past their desired human origin stories which reflect their desired futures. Hence, the leading interpretations of gender prehistory have changed drastically from their origins in the middle of the nineteenth century to the debate between androcentric and feminist scholars in the second half of the twentieth century because of internal academic shifts and external cultural and societal shifts, the discovery of new anthropological, archeological, ethnographic, and biological data, and projections onto prehistory which lead to the “discovery” of “findings” which affirmed the biases of some scholars.
ABSTRACT: The Kingdom of Dahomey’s 18th century invasions into the territories of its neighbors, Allada and Whydah, reveal insightful information regarding the role that the Slave Trade played in the struggle for West African political authority. This thesis analyzes how Dahomey used its participation in the Slave Trade to further its own geopolitical interests on the Slave Coast, from the late 17th century to the mid-1800s. It also examines the fluctuating power relations present between Dahomey, the Oyo Empire, Allada, and Whydah. The first chapter serves as an overview of the diplomatic relations on the Slave Coast throughout the 17th century. Additionally, it will also discuss how the Kingdom of Dahomey eventually increased its political independence, isolating itself from neighboring states. The second chapter examines Dahomey’s contacts with European trading and how it utilized the increased capital (mainly firearms) to assert its political authority in the region. The third chapter outlines the 1724 and 1727 military campaigns into Allada and Whydah, ordered by the Dahomian ruler Agaja, thereafter, analyzing the fallout wars with the Oyo Empire. The fourth and final chapter tackles the second half of the 18th century, a period of limited Dahomian political authority. Additionally, it will examine the internal divisions within the Kingdom and how its new ruler King Tegbesu dealt with the Oyo Empire.
ABSTRACT: Following Rome’s first century invasion of Britain, significant changes occurred on the island politically, economically, and culturally. This thesis examines the adaptation and continuation of artistic and religious traditions on the island of Britain spanning from the Late Iron Age through Rome’s three hundred-and sixty-seven-year occupation. Within the introduction, a brief historiography will be given on the study of Roman Britain, identifying the major changes that have occurred within the field of study over the course of approximately five hundred years. Additionally, it will also discuss the effect of Roman culture on British society from three differing modern interpretations. The second chapter serves to provide a background on Britain by first reviewing what the Romans knew and thought of the island and its inhabitants, followed by what the archaeological record reveals about the society that existed during the Late Iron Age. Chapter three explores the developments in the artistic styles used by the Britons between the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. The fourth chapter explores the conflation and syncretism between the religion observed by the Britons and that which was practiced by the Romans. Both chapters three and four will seek to demonstrate the ways in which the Britons adapted to the introduction of Roman culture, while simultaneously continuing the artistic and religious traditions of their ancestors.
