Western Civilization to 1660 FALL 2011
HIST 05.100.6 TR 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM Robinson 101B
HIST 05.100.5 TR 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM Library 126
Instructor: Robert S. Hohwald, Ph. D.
Appointments can be immediately before or after class.
Please leave all papers and messages at the History Department.
Office Hours: By Appointment in History Department
Description: This course examines the foundations laid by the Greeks and Romans for
Western Civilization, and then it traces that civilization from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance and Reformation.
Goal: This course is not one of names and dates, for it traces how political, social, economic, religious, military and intellectual forces formed the societies that produced our current Western Civilization.
Objectives: There are eight components of each society we study: 1) origins 2) politics
3) religion 4) social classes 5) economy 6) military 7) collapse 8) its effect on us
Outcome: The ability to discuss the eight components of each society covered in the course.
Assessment:
Papers: Each student will produce six essay papers; each essay is two typed pages. The student may use any writing style. The papers will consist of your own work and the work of others when their work is properly attributed. The student will discuss each paper in class when it is submitted. A late paper may be lowered one grade. All papers are submitted in class; no e-mail papers are accepted.
Presentation: Each student does two five-minute oral reports on an individual/event.
Exam: The final exam is a take-home, essay exam. Students will decide on exam questions.
Texts: Marvin Perry, et al., Western Civilization, Ideas, Politics, and Society, Volume I to 1789 (Eighth Edition: Wadsworth 2006,
ISBN 978-0618613014)
Marvin Perry, et al., Sources of the Western Tradition, Volume
I From Ancient Times to the Enlightenment (Seventh Edition:
Wadsworth 2007,
ISBN 978=0618958559)
Any edition of these textbooks is suitable for the course.

Grading: short papers (six) 50% class discussion 20% presentations 25% exam 5%
Absences: Students are expected to attend all classes unless they have a medical or an immediate family emergency. Seven absences will result in an F for class discussion.
Student Accommodation Policy
Your academic success is important. If you have a documented disability that may have an impact on your work in this class, please contact me. You are not required to disclose to me the nature of your disability, only that you qualify for accommodation, with appropriate paperwork from the Office of Student Affairs.
Students must provide documentation of their disability to the Academic Success
Center in order to receive official university services and accommodations. The
ASC can be reached at 856-256-4234 and is located on the Third Floor of Savitz
Hall. Staff is available to answer questions regarding accommodations and to
Classes help you obtain them.
Sep 1
6
Introduction
WC 1, Sources 1
8 WC 2, Sources 2 Paper: How Ancient Egypt was a Civilization
13
15
WC 3, Sources 3
WC 4 Paper: How Greek
Philosophy, Hebrew Bible, and Christian
Scriptures made the individual
20
22
Movie (Odyssey)
Movie (Odyssey)
27 WC 5
29 WC 6, Sources 4
Oct 4 WC 7, Sources 5
6 WC 8 Paper: Roman Republic and Empire, the good and bad
11 WC 9, Sources 6
13 Presentations
18 Presentations
20 WC 10, Sources 7, 8
25 WC 11, Paper: Feudalism and the Roman Catholic Church, good and bad
27 Movie (El Cid)
Nov 1 NO CLASS
3
8
Movie (El Cid)
WC 12
10 WC 13, Sources 9
15 WC 14, Sources 10, Paper: Renaissance and Reformation
17 WC 15, Sources 11
22 WC 16 –17, Sources 12
29 Paper: Absolutist and Constitutional Europe
Dec 1 Presentations
6 Presentations
8 Decide on Exam Questions All Late Papers Due
13 Exam Times TBA

Final TBD