Normal Community High School/Heartland Community College
Division: Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Course Syllabus for Students Fall 2013
Course Prefix and Number: HIST 101, Section 01
Course Title: History of Western Civilization to 1500
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 5
Days and times the course meets
Classroom: NCHS 12
Time: M,T,W,R,F 7:15 – 8:05
Catalog Description
History 101 covers the mainstream of western civilization from the first millennium B.C. to the year
1500. This course considers religious, economic and cultural developments, as well as them major
political events of the period. The primary focus of the course is upon Europe, but the great Middle
Eastern civilizations and their cultural contributions are considered, insofar as they impact the European
continent and help to shape the West. Special attention is given to the significant contributions of
individuals, as well as to the rise of nations.
Prerequisite(s): dual credit – none
Instructor Information
Instructor name: Julie Scott Hagler
Contact information:haglerjs@unit5.org
Location of instructor’s office: NCHS rm 07
Conference hours: 3rd & 4th hour
Textbooks
The following texts will be checked out to the student for their use during the course:
Spielvogel, Jackson (2014) Western Civilization: A Brief History, Volume I: To 1715, 8th
edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning
Gregory, Candace (2006) Documents of Western Civilization, Volume I: To 1715, Wadsworth
Cengage Learning
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TRANSFERABILITY
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S.
degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the
Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI.
However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding particular
institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for more information.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes)
Course Outcomes
Distinguish between primary and secondary
sources as the foundation of modern historical
scholarship from the first millennium B.C. to
1500.
Interpret primary sources critically by
analyzing their historical contexts.
Formulate historical interpretations, both in
discussion and in writing, and defend them
critically with reference to primary and
secondary sources.
Incorporate into historical interpretations, both
in discussion and in writing, an understanding
of historical causation reflecting:
a) knowledge of important figures and events
and their chronological relationship to
each other
b) an awareness of the contingent
relationships
Demonstrate orally and in writing an
understanding and appreciation of diverse
cultures and shared humanity.
General
Education
Outcomes
PS1
CT3
CO4
Range of Assessment Methods
exams, quizzes, research paper, group
projects
exams, quizzes, research paper, group
projects
exams, quizzes, research paper, group
projects, oral reports
exams, quizzes, research paper, group
projects, oral reports
CT3
DI3
exams, quizzes, research paper, group
projects, oral reports
COURSE OUTLINE
The Civilizations of the Ancient Near East
Hellenic Civilizations
The Roman World
The Byzantine Recovery and the Challenge of Islam
Charlemagne and the Carolinian Empire
The High Middle Ages
The Crusades
The Late Middle Ages
The Renaissance
METHOD OF EVALUATION
Quizzes and Exams – 40% of final grade
Research Paper – 8-10 pages – 30% of final grade
Primary Source - Written Analysis and Discussion Group Leader – 20% of final grade
Class Participation – 10% of final grade
Other assignments as deemed appropriate by the instructor
-% of final grade is an approximate and may vary slightly
DUE DATES & MAKE-UP WORK
Students who miss a quiz or test must contact me either in person (NOT during class – either
before or after school) or by email to make arrangements to make up the assignment.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. In order to pass this class, students
must complete EVERY assignment. Assignments that are received late will be severely
penalized.
GRADING SCALE
A 100 – 90
B  89 – 80
C  79 – 70
D  69 – 60
F  59 – 0
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING
This course requires approximately 30-40 pages of reading per week or 500 per semester. Reading
assignments will include both primary and secondary source materials. A minimum of 15 pages of
college level writing is required in this course. Writing assignments include papers of carious lengths,
essay exams, and various projects as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
STUDENT CONDUCT
Students are expected to be in compliance with the NCHS student handbook at all times. Students are
also expected to be in compliance will Heartland code for student conduct.
HCC PORTAL
As students in the Dual Credit program you are Heartland Community College students. You will need
to go to HCC to have an ID taken. In order to access IRIS and your Heartland Student e-mail you will
need to login to myHeartland at https://myheartland.edu
COURSE CALENDAR
Changes to the Course Calendar may be made during the course of the class. This is sometimes
unavoidable and students will be notified in class should changes become necessary.
Week
Date
#1
8/19
#2
8/26
#3
9/02
#4
9/09
#5
9/16
Weekly TOPIC and Associated Readings
The Civilizations of the Ancient Near East
Chpt 1 – The Ancient Near East-First Civ.
Gregory pg 7-9
The Civilizations of the Ancient Near East – cont.
Chpt 2 – The Ancient Near East-Peoples & Empires
Gregory pg 23-25
Hellenic Civilizations
Chpt 3 – The Greeks
Hellenic Civilizations – cont.
Chpt 4 – The Hellenistic World
Gregory pg 45-47
The Roman World
Chpt 5 – The Roman Republic-pg.89-105
Assignments/Assessments*
Research Paper Assigned – 8/26
Research Proposal DUE – 9/06
Quiz – 9/13
Week
Date
#6
9/23
#7
9/30
#8
10/07
#9
10/14
#10
10/21
#11
10/28
#12
11/04
#13
11/11
#14
11/18
#15
11/25
#16
12/02
#17
12/09
#18
12/16
Weekly TOPIC and Associated Readings
Gregory pg 59-62
The Roman World – cont.
Chpt 5 – The Decline and Fall of the RR-pg.105-110
Chpt 6 – The Roman Empire-pg.113-128
Gregory pg 74-77
The Roman World – cont.
Chpt 6 – The Roman Empire-pg.129-141
Gregory pg 79-83
The Byzantine Recovery and the Challenge of Islam
Chpt 7 – The Emergence of the Medieval Worldpg.141-159
Assignments/Assessments*
Mid-term EXAM – 10/11
Charlemagne and the Carolinian Empire
Chpt 8 – The Early Middle Ages
Gregory pg 93-96
Research Status Report DUE –
10/24
The High Middle Ages
Chpt 9 – The High Middle Ages
Gregory pg 124-127
The High Middle Ages – cont.
Chpt 10 – Rise of Kingdoms-pg.205-223
Gregory pg 149-156
The Crusades
Chpt 10 – The Crusades-pg.223-227
Gregory pg 162-166
The Late Middle Ages
Chpt 11 – The Late Middle Ages-The Black Deathpg.230-236
Gregory pg 185-188
The Late Middle Ages – cont.
Chpt 11 – The Late Middle Ages-pg.236-250
Gregory pg 192-196
The Renaissance
Chpt 12 – The Renaissance
Gregory pg 197-199
The Renaissance – cont.
Gregory pg 202-205
Course Wrap Up
Research Papers DUE – 11/15
Quiz – 11/22
Final Exam – 12/18,19,or20
*Primary source document analysis and discussion leader assignment dates will vary by student. Students will
sign up for these activities on one of the first days of class. Group discussions will typically be on Friday of the
assigned week or the last day of the week if there is no school on Friday.