MONTGOMERY
COLLEGE
A North Harris Montgomery Community College
WESTERN CIVILIZATION I
History 2311
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the history of Western civilization from the beginning of recorded history through the
Renaissance and Reformation. Its purpose is to provide students with an interpretive analysis of the social,
economic, political and intellectual dynamics that have shaped Western history since antiquity.
CREDIT:
3 hours, transferable to any 4-year institution. Many universities accept this class as meeting their cross or
multi-cultural requirements. For instance Western Civilization is accepted at the University of Houston - Main Campus as
meeting the Cultural Heritage requirement.
PREREQUISITES:
None
ADA STATEMENT
If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, please notify the
instructor of this course within the first two weeks of class.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this course is to explore and analyze the exciting past of antiquity, the middle ages, and the
Renaissance and Reformation in the hopes that you will be able to begin understanding why we are the way we are
today by examining where we came from. We will learn certain historical facts, but it is more important that we
apply our ability to think and synthesize rather than to merely demonstrate our power to memorize and repeat.
COURSE OUTCOMES
In completing this course, you need to
1. Articulate and understand the concept and elements of what historians call “Western Civilization.”
2. Discuss the general cultural values of the Greco-Roman civilization.
3. Account for the process of "diffusion" and “synthesis" in history.
4. Trace the origins of the Middle Ages and access its contributions to “modern” life.
5. Evaluate, discuss, and define the concept of Renaissance during the birth of “modern” Europe.
6. Evaluate the positive and negative impacts of Western Civilization outside of Europe.
7. Explore the enormous influence of the past over the present.
8. Explain and give examples of the interaction between geography and history.
9. Explain the development and growth of the particularly Western idea of the separation of Church and State.
10. Examine the development of constitutionalism in Western Civilization.
11. Explain how/why women lost power over the period covered in this semester (in other words, be able to
explain why women were more powerful in the 3rd century BCE then in 1700 AD).
REQUIRED MATERIAL
Western Civilizations, Volume 1, 14th ed., Coffin, et. al
Perspectives from the Past: Primary Sources in Western Civilization, Volume 1, 2nd ed., Brophy, et. al
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
In the case of plagiarism (claiming that words and ideas of others are your own and/or not indicating the source of
ideas), the instructor reserves the right to give the student a zero for the assignment. In the case of cheating during
the course of an in-class assignment or unauthorized collaboration on a writing project, the instructor reserves the
right to give the student or students a zero for the assignment.
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
J. Ross-Nazzal, Ph.D.
Trailer (room #3)
Course Description. This class is an in-depth, intensive examination of ancient, medieval, and early-modern
European history. Major themes to be covered include the particularly Western idea of separating spiritual
(religion) institutions from temporal (civil government) ones; the development of Constitutionalism; and, the
falling status of women over time. Throughout, emphasis will be placed on techniques of historical reasoning,
analysis and college-level writing.
Attendance. Life is too short to repeat in lecture what is available to you in the textbooks, thus relentless
attendance is required. If you miss a few days you truly miss a lot because the lectures are tightly integrated. In
other words, you will have a harder time understanding later lectures if you miss the earlier ones. Please be on time
as the classes will start promptly. In the event a student misses class, she or he is still responsible for all material
covered in class.
Grading. There are four different types of graded assignments this semester and they include Exams, a short
research paper, an Oral Presentation, and a Library assignment.
Exams. There are four exams this semester. The first exam covers the Ancient Near East (Chapters 1-3). The
second exam covers the Greek and Roman worlds (Chapters 4-7). The third exam covers the early Middle Ages
(Chapters 8-11). The fourth exam will cover the High Middle Ages/Early Modern Europe (Chapters 12-15).
Each exam will consist of numerous sections to choose from such as Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blanks, Matching,
Maps, and Identifications. You will select two of the offered sections, each being worth 25%. There is also an
essay. The essay is worth 50% of the exam and you will all do the essay section. Not to worry, however, as I will
hand out the essay question one week before the exam. I will provide you with a study/review guide before each
exam and we will usually have some in-class time to review. As long as you keep up with the reading, engage your
colleagues and myself in meaningful discussions in class, take good notes, and review them frequently you should
be well prepared to do well (i.e., pass). While I do give make-up exams for those who cannot attend the regularly
scheduled exams, due to documented emergencies please note that the make-up exams are all essay questions.
Each exam is worth 100 points. Thus exams (400 points) will be worth 40% of your final grade.
Research Paper. Using historical evidence you will produce a 3-5 page paper that examines a particular question
in historiography. At the end of this syllabus is a list of historical questions. Please read the list and select one that
interests you. If you are interested in something that is not listed below, then please see me and we can talk about
developing a question. This assignment is not to produce a mere narrative (a bedtime story). Instead, you will need
to explain why something happened, or you need to argue a particular point. You will need to use evidence to
support your thesis. We will talk more about this assignment later to include research, how to properly cite your
research, how to develop a thesis, and other writing-related stuff. This assignment is worth 150 points, thus it is
worth 15% of your final grade.
Oral Presentation. This assignment is based on the Early Modern period and it is designed to help you to better
understand the development of Constitutionalism in the West, the uniquely Western idea of the separation between
Church and State, and the changing status of women. What you need to do is find a person, a document, a battle, or
an event that interests you, and present a simple, five-minute presentation to the class and myself on how your
subject shows, explains, or highlights the development of Constitutionalism, the separation of Church and State, or
the changing status of women in the early modern period of European history. You must use at least one (1) type
of technology (PowerPoint, transparencies, etc.). No two students will be allowed to discuss the same historic
person, place, event, document, or battle so I have a sign up sheet in my office. Part of this assignment is to come
to my office and sign up. First come, first serve. This assignment is worth 150 points, thus it is worth 15% of your
final grade.
Library Assignment. Simply go to the library, follow the instructions on the handout, and return it to class no later
than the date it is due. This assignment is designed to better familiarize yourselves with the library, the library
personnel, and what you can (and cannot) get from our library. It is a simple assignment, so have fun with it. It is
worth 100 points, thus it is worth 10% of your final grade.
Final Exam. There is a final exam (insert boos here). Not to worry, however, as you will be well prepared to do
well on this assignment. The Final Exam consists of one, albeit comprehensive, question. It will ask you to detail
one of our big three themes from the Ancient Near East to Early Modern Europe. After the first exam I will present
you with an outline that will better help you address the question of the final exam. This assignment is worth 200
points, or 20% of your final grade.
Participation. I expect that you will read your daily assignments and come to class prepared to discuss the major
points.
Late Work. Missed exams and/or quizzes will be completed on the day of your return. Late written assignments,
however, will lose one full grade for each calendar day it is late (one day late means the best you can get is a B,
two days and the best grade would be a C, et cetera). This does not mean, however, that you should not turn in an
assignment that is over three days late because this class is based on points so although 50 points on a 100 point
assignment would be failing the assignment, 50 points is still much less damaging to your grade than if you did not
receive any points by not handing in the assignment at all.
Grade Scale: Percentage
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-60
Points
1000-900
899-800
799-700
699-600
Grade
A
B
C
D
A final thought on grades – Getting good grades is easy. All you have to do is keep up with the readings, take good
notes in class, review your notes, and put forth your most concerted efforts in regards to the out of class
assignments. It also is in your best interests to take full advantage of my office hours and open door policy. Please
understand that no one has more control over your grades than you. You will do well (i.e., pass) if you decided that
studying is what is important and if you take the necessary steps to do well.
Date
Topic/Assignment
Read/Due
I.
08/27
08/29
09/03
09/05
09/05
09/10
Ancient Near East
Introduction to and Origins of Western Civilizations
In The Beginning . . .
pp. 14-30
Babylonian, Egyptian, Aegean Societies
pp. 30-43; 50-55; 59-67; 70-78
Hebrews, Assyrians, and Persians
pp. 82-110 ; Library Assignment Due
Exam Review
EXAM I: Ancient Near East
II.
09/12
09/17
09/19
09/24
09/26
10/01
Greece and Rome
Greece: Dark, Archaic, and Golden
Expansion of Greece and All Things Greek
Roman Republic
Roman Empire
Christianity and Rome
EXAM II: Greece and Rome
pp. 117-133; 135-151
pp. 156-179
pp. 184-200
pp. 201-219; 224-232
pp. 232-254
III.
10/03
10/08
10/10
10/15
10/17
10/22
10/24
10/29
10/31
Middle Ages
Byzantines and Muslims
Carolingians
Crusades
Knights, Nobles, and National Monarchies
Church Reform
Medieval Intellectual Revival
Death, Disease and Despair
Challenges to the Church and States
EXAM III: Middle Ages
pp. 262-283 ; Research Paper First Draft Due
pp. 286-298
pp. 312-323
pp. 323-342
pp. 345-363
pp. 363-380
pp. 383-394
pp. 394-420
IV.
11/05
11/07
11/12
11/19
11/21
11/26
12/03
12/05
Early Modern Europe
Renaissance
Trade, Travel, and Colonialism
Reformation and Counter-Reformation
Divergent Paths: Spain, France, and England
Age of Absolutism
Oral Presentations
Oral Presentations
EXAM IV: Early Modern Europe
pp. 455-483
pp. 438-450
pp. 488-516
pp. 530-536; 593-600
pp. 600-612
Research Paper Final Draft Due
Research Paper Questions
1. Herodotus, a Greek historian, supposedly traveled around the known world and was even know to have written
a thing or two about what he saw. One of his most famous works is called The Histories. That book has been
translated into English by many folks, for example by Aubrey De Selincourt for Penguin Press in 1992. In
Histories, what does Herodotus say about foreign (non-Greek) people? What does his interpretations of foreign
cultures, religions, and societies say about Greek culture, religion, and societies? Check online for an e-copy of
this book.
2. Tacitus, a Roman historian, provided an exhaustive examination into Germanic culture towards the end of the
First century CE in Germania. Tacitus had never been to Germany; it is not certain he knew anything at all
about the Germans. Why then did he write this book? How does your answer to this question affect your use of
this book as a source for “Germanic” life? Check the Fordham University website for an e-copy of Germania.
3. Ancient Greeks believed that outside society (meaning a place that had no government) there existed only
beasts. Only within the context of government could people become truly human and the object, thus, of
government was to make humans human, hence government was good. Currently, it is not unusual to hear
people say that government is bad and that government curtails their ability or their desires to be free. This is
certainly a shift. When did this shift in Western thought take place and why?
4. Many Conservative pundits can show you signs indicating that the U.S. is on a downward moral spiral. Many
Americans believe that this country was more moral, more fit, or just plain better in the 1950s, for example.
That’s nothing new. Many Roman writers drew contrasts between Republican virtue and Imperial corruption.
They wrote on the greatness of life during the Republic and of the sorrow, greed, and corruption of the Empire.
Why were people writing this stuff?
5. Rome conquered Greece in 2 BCE. But then Rome adapted Greek society as their own thus by 1 CE who really
conquered who?
6. Compare and contrast homosexual behavior in Greek and Roman societies. Was it accepted or rejected by
society as a whole? Why?
7. Some historians argue that Christianity went from a cult to a religion between the 3rd and 5th centuries. What
happened to the Church during this 300-year period that altered it so dramatically?
8. When and why did the Western Church establish celibacy for its religious affiliates?
9. Greek was the language of philosophy and was the official language for the Eastern Church. Latin was the
language of law and the official language of the Western Church. In the Greek East, the Church’s leaders
celebrated Reason, Knowledge, Perfectibility of the individual, the Resurrection of Jesus, Creation as
necessity, and believed that people sinned because they were ignorant of God’s wishes. In the Latin West, the
Church’s leaders celebrated Will, Grace, Original Sin, the Crucifixion of Jesus, Creation as God’s Will, and the
belief that people sinned because they were disobedient to God. What happened to create these two very
different views of Christianity?
10. Did the events in the 5th century CE result in the fall of Rome? Defend your answer.
11. What was the connection between Catholicism and successful barbarians in the 3rd and 4th centuries?
12. Why did Gregory of Tours call Clovis the “Second Constantine”? More importantly, was he right?
13. Was the Battle of Puatea truly an end to Muslim expansion in Europe? According to some Muslim sources, it
was not the Muslim army but rather a small raiding party that was defeated. The Christian victory seemed to
grow as the story was told throughout Europe. So, which side is right?
14. Some historians argue that St. Boniface played Samuel to anoint Pepin, the new Saul. Make or challenge the
connection between Boniface and Pepin with the Old Testament figures of Samuel and Saul.
15. Compare and contrast the ultimate impact of the Vikings on France and England.
16. Explain three parts of the papal reform movement that took place right before the Investiture Conflict began in
the 11th century.
17. Who won the Investiture Conflict? Defend your answer.
18. Examine the internal crusades. When did they take place? Where did they take place? What were the results?
19. Examine the strategy of slavery in any pre-modern (before the 18th century) European state. Why did slavery
exist? Was it a socio-economic strategy or more of a legal one? Who were enslaved and who were the masters?
20. Jews were blamed for the death of Jesus Christ. As a result, many Jews did not live lives outside the context of
fear and persecution. Pick any European country that had a known Jewish population (Spain or France
immediately come to mind) and examine how they were persecuted either through legal channels (laws) or
social actions (such as torch-wielding townfolk on a rampage).
21. How did the Reformation and Counter-Reformation impact women?
22. What events and developments in technologies facilitate such things as European control of foreign trade and
eventually colonialism?
23. Why did the Renaissance take place when it did? Why was the Renaissance throughout Northern Europe so
much different from the one in Italy? Finally, why did the Renaissance come to an end?
24. Explain why the witch craze happened when it did in Europe and not 100 years before or 100 years later.
Besides the belief in supernatural creatures (such as witches, Satan, ghouls, gnomes, dryads, and the like) what
else could explain why the witch craze happened?
25. Pick any country and explain how popular culture changed over time. In other words, first explain what the
people did for fun (games, songs, books) in 1200 and then again in 1700. Next, explain why things changed.
26. Travel was popular in the Middle Ages. Lots of folks ventured away from their homes, eventually returned,
and wrote all about what they saw. There are many books on Medieval travel and travel literature out there.
Select some travel books written by or about Christian Europeans’ adventures to non-Christian countries and
write about how that traveler or those travelers saw, portrayed, and editorialized about the non-Christians.
Library Assignment
Western Civilization
Fall 2002
Name:____________
Dr. J. Ross-Nazzal
Please answer each question below in the space provided. When necessary, attach copies of requested information
by stapling the sheet(s) behind this page in the upper left hand corner. This assignment is worth 100 points, so each
question is worth 10 points.
1. What is the name of Montgomery College’s librarian for History questions?________________________
2. What are the main library’s hours of operation during the week:_________________________
at night: __________________________
weekends: __________________________
3. What is ILL? _______________________________________
4. Do you have ILL privileges here? ______________________
5. Are the book arranged by the Dewey Decimal system, the Library of Congress system, or
both?___________________
6. Use the online database and find a book by an author whose last name you share. Make a copy of the result of
your online search and staple it to this page. If there are no published authors with your last name, then select
an author whose name is either alphabetically before or after your own name.
My copy is stapled to this sheet: YES___
No, I want to lose points__
7. Make a copy of the cover of any microfiched journal that was published on the month of your birth (make sure
that I can read the title of the journal as well as the date). Staple it to this sheet.
My copy is stapled to this sheet: YES___
No, I want to lose points__
8. List three online search engines where you can obtain free copies of journals, magazines, and other nonmonographs here at the college’s library
_________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
9. Besides books, journals, magazines, and newspapers, list one non-print material that is available for your use at
our library? __________________________________________________________
10. If you ever write on, highlight in, or in any other way damage a library book, what horrible, awful fate will
await you? _______________________________________________________________________