History 105
Syllabus
Instructor: Joseph Bell
Office hours: TBA
Contact info: joseph.bell@wnc.edu
General Course Information1
Name: European Civilization to 1648
Discipline: History
Units (Credits): 3
Transfer Information: Courses with numbers 100 to 299: This course is designed to apply toward
a WNC degree and/or transfer to other schools within the Nevada System of Higher Education,
depending on the degree chosen and other courses completed. It may transfer to colleges and
universities outside Nevada. For information about how this course can transfer and apply to
your program of study, please contact a counselor.
Academic Division: Liberal Arts
Prerequisites: None
I.
II.
III.
1
General Course Outline
Catalogue Description: Covers the development of Western civilization and history
from its beginnings in the valleys of the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates rivers to the mid17th century rise of strong nation-states.
Instructor’s description: This course is meant to provide the student with an overview
of Western Civilization from its beginnings until AD 1648. We will focus on the
achievements and interactions of past societies and how various cultures shaped their
world around them, and evolved as their environments, both political and natural
changed. We will not only explore major themes in Western History such as religion
and power, but also the meaning of art, architecture, common objects and tools, and
literature in historical study. This course will also help build the student’s historical
writing skills. These skills include analyzing information, critical thinking, and
forming cogent arguments. They will prove to be valuable assets to students of all
disciplines. The student will therefore be given short writing assignments meant to
facilitate critical thinking and foster appreciation for past cultures in their own
contexts.
Course Objectives:
Develop a mastery of knowledge of distinct historical events, ideas and concepts of
European civilizations from their beginnings to the onset of the modern age.
Understand the forces leading to historical change and political, economic and social
transformation. Develop an appreciation of cultural, religious and racial diversity
through the study of European civilization before the modern era. Learn to express
understanding of the above concepts through effective written and oral
communications. Engage in critical thinking through analysis of historical factual
and conceptual information
All general information and course outline materials may be found in the Western Nevada College catalogue
online at http://www.wnc.edu/academics/catalog/hist/101/.
IV.
III: Course Linkage:
Linkage of course to educational program mission and at least one educational program outcome.
European Civilization I fulfills the general education mission of providing a core of critical life
skills and of promoting the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will benefit
students in their personal and professional endeavors. HIST 105 relates to student learning
outcomes in the area of Communication, Analysis, Personal Development and Community
Commitment.
Required Texts
Kenneth L. Campbell, Western Civilization: A Global and Comparative Approach: to 1715
(London: Routledge, 2012).
Requirements
1.
Attendance – Students must attend every class. The instructor is heartless when it
comes to attendance. Should you need to miss a class due to serious illness/bodily injury, it is
your responsibility to ascertain the class material covered during your absence from another
student.
2.
Respect in the classroom environment – Students, by nature, are here to learn. A
respectful environment is necessary for learning. Students must be civil to the instructor and to
one another. At certain times during the semester we may discuss sensitive and/or controversial
issues. It is especially necessary that students remain respectful at all times. Students who
engage in any questionable, inappropriate, or offensive behavior/language/attitudes will be asked
to leave, and may be subject to disciplinary action.
3.
Reading - A reading assignment is assigned for every class and must be
completed beforehand. Usually the reading will be from a section of your text book.
Occasionally, however, the instructor may assign supplemental reading from an article or
excerpt.
4.
Writing – There will be several essays throughout the semester. Most of these
will be outstandingly short essays mainly meant to hone your historical writing skills. There is
one 2-4 page critical essay which will test your writing skills as well as your historical
knowledge. All writing must follow the exact directions given.
5.
Midterm – A midterm exam will be given in week 7. It will cover all material up
to week 7. It will consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, identification questions,
and a short essay section. Be sure to study well for the midterm as I delight in cruelty when it
comes to midterms
6.
Final exam – The final exam will fall on the last class. It will cover all material
from week 7 to the end of our study. It will consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the
blank, and identification questions. You will also receive a personalized essay question
pertaining to your critical essay.
Assignments
Critical Essay: This is a 2-4 page essay about one of the topics covered either in class or in your
reading. Excellent places to look for topic questions can be found in your textbook with
suggestions for further reading. However, the best essays come from topics that truly interest
you. For example, I love boats, so I might come up with a question like: “How did the ancient
Romans defeat the Carthaginians in naval battles when Carthage had a larger navy and greater
nautical experience?” I could just as easily ask “How did developments in naval technology
change the political dynamic of the medieval Mediterranean world?” In answering these
questions I would look for possible answers and discuss them using reason to come to the most
plausible conclusion. If you need help choosing a topic, conducting research, etc. please see me
during office hours. The essay will be due on our first meeting day in week 10. Please use
Chicago/Turabian style citation. For additional help, please see the assignment sheet, or again
see me in my office.
Short Essay Quizzes: These will be short quizzes given at the end of units. They will consist of
a set of short answer questions, and a prompt for an essay for you to complete over the weekend
(Don’t worry, they’re only three quarters to a page in length). There will only be about 5
questions on each short answer section. The Multiple choice questions will be given in the last
ten minutes of class on the last day of the unit. The essay questions will be handed to you when
you turn in your multiple choice questions. These are meant as a refresher for each unit, and as a
way to give you some painless practice with essay writing.
Midterm: A midterm exam will be given in week 7. It will cover all material up to week 7. It
will consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, identification questions, and a short
essay section. Be sure to study well for the midterm as I delight in cruelty when it comes to
midterms.
Final Exam: The final exam will fall on the last class. It will cover all material from week 7 to
the end of our study. It will consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, and
identification questions. You will also receive a personalized essay question pertaining to your
critical essay.
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit.
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Grading
Critical Essay: 25%
Short Essay Quizzes: 20%
Midterm Exam: 25%
Final Exam: 30%
Grades are assigned using this percentage scale:
94-100
A
90-93
A87-89
B+
84-86
B
80-83
B77-79
C+
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
60-63
Under 60
C
CD+
D
DF
Late Work and Make-Up Policy
Late work will not be accepted without a prearranged extension granted by the instructor, except
in extraordinary circumstances accompanied by documentation (i.e. doctor’s notes, police
reports, etc. The instructor may or may not choose to grant an extension; there is no guarantee.
The same rule applies for make-up examinations.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to know and uphold high standards of Academic integrity. Information
pertaining thereto may be found in the WNC course catalogue, at https:www.indiana.edu/~istd/,
or by doing a simple google search. The instructor will address any and all violations of
academic integrity with the strictest possible measures. Violations of academic integrity include
but are not limited to cheating and plagiarism. Students who engage in such activities shall
receive an F on the assignment. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the student may
also fail the course, receive disciplinary admonition and warning, disciplinary probation,
suspension from Western Nevada College for a definite period of time, or expulsion from
Western Nevada College. For more information about academic dishonesty please visit Western
Nevada College’s policy page at: http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/3-4-5.php.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability for which you will need accommodations, please contact the Disability
Support Services office as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations. Contact
Susan Trist (susan.trist@wnc.edu), Cedar 209-212.
Week
1
8/319/44
2
9/7-9/11
Topic
Introductions and
prehistory
Reading
Syllabus
Campbell: 3-9
Classroom Activities
Day 1: lecture
The Fertile Crescent
Campbell: 9-26
3
9/149/18
4
9/219/25
Ancient Greece and Persia
Campbell: 33-61
Day 1: lecture
Day 2: lecture
Short Essay Quiz
Day 1: lecture
5
The Roman Republic and
Day 2: lecture
Day 2: lecture
The Hellenistic Age
Campbell: 64-79
Day 1: lecture
Campbell: 79-93
Day 2: lecture
Short Essay Quiz
Day 1: lecture
9/2810/2
6
10/510/9
7
10/1210/16
8
10/1910/23
its Fall
The Roman Empire
The “Dark Ages”
Day 2: lecture
Campbell: 95-122
Day 1: lecture
Campbell: 122-157
Day 2: lecture
Short Essay Quiz
Day 1: Mid Term
Day 2: lecture
The Early Middle Ages
Campbell: 159-183; 189
Campbell: 191 - 219
Day 1: lecture
Day 2: lecture
Short Essay Quiz
Day 1: lecture
9
10/2610/29
10
11/211/6
The High Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages
Campbell: 221 - 243
Day 1: lecture
Critical Essay due today!
Day 2: lecture
11
11/911/13
The Renaissance
Campbell: 245 - 274
Day 1: lecture
12
11/1611/20
13
11/2311/27
The Age of Exploration
Campbell: 276 - 301
Day 2: lecture
Short Essay Quiz
Day 1: lecture
14
11/3012/4
15
12/712/11
16
12/1412/18
Western Expansion
Day 2: lecture
Day 2: lecture
Reformation Europe
Campbell: 303 - 332
Day 1: lecture
Campbell: 334 - 363
Day 2: lecture
Short Essay Quiz
Day 1: lecture
Day 2: lecture
European Revolutions
Final Exams
Campbell: 366 – as far as
you can get!
Study
Day 1: lecture
Day 2: lecture
Final Exam