SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
COURSE SYLLABUS
FALL 2011
The College at Southwestern
Course Title: Early Western Civilization HIS 1103-A
Class Dates & Times: Tuesday/Thursday, 2:30-3:45 PM
Room: S-118
Instructor:
Kevin Stilley
Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: kstilley@swbts.edu
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kevinstilley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kevin.stilley
Catalog Description
A study of the history and philosophy of western civilization from antiquity to the rise of
Christianity.
Course Objectives



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To gain knowledge of the main events, ideas and persons that have shaped western
civilization from antiquity to the rise of Christianity.
To develop the skill of applying history to contemporary ideas and issues
To understand how the Biblical record and western civilization are related and be able
to outline the relationship between revelation and historical records.
Appreciation of God’s providence in the overall pattern of history.
Required Texts



Susan Wise Bauer. The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to
the Fall of Rome – isbn. 039305974X
Edgar J. Goodspeed. The Apocrypha – isbn. 0679724524
Paul L. Maier. Josephus: The Essential Works — isbn. 082543260X
Recommended Texts


The ESV Study Bible.
Lynn Troyka & Douglas Hesse. Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers, 8th ed.
Blackboard
Blackboard and SWBTS student email will be used for class communications. The best
browser to use to access Blackboard for a pc is Mozilla Firefox and for a Mac is Safari.
Students should check both Blackboard and email daily for possible communications
from the instructor. WARNING: Use of Blackboard requires that students pass an elicense test. Complete this test as early as possible during the semester to avoid being
locked out of Blackboard at the time the first exam is being conducted via that medium.
Alternative dates and formats for the test will NOT be offered.
Assignments
Grades will be determined based upon completion of three exams, two writing
assignments/projects, and class participation.

Examination #1 (25%) - This exam will be conducted via Blackboard so please be
sure to have a good internet connection available on the day of the exam. I
recommend using Mozilla Firefox as your browser when using a PC and using Safari
as your browser when using a Mac.

Examination #2 (25%) - This exam will be conducted via Blackboard so please be
sure to have a good internet connection available on the day of the exam. I
recommend using Mozilla Firefox as your browser when using a PC and using Safari
as your browser when using a Mac.

Final Exam: (25%) - The date and time for the final exam does not coincide with
normal class days and times. You must make yourself available to take the final exam
at the scheduled time during finals week. No alternative times or venues for the
exam will be offered.

Writing Assignments / Projects (20%): Two writing projects have been assigned
for this semester. To receive full credit for these assignments you must turn them in
to the instructor in class on the day they are due.
o Create in the style of a David Letterman’s Top 10 List, “Reasons Why
Christians should be interested in history?” It may be helpful to consult the
list of quotations found at http://www.kevinstilley.com/history-select-quotes/
and view previous student responses at http://www.kevinstilley.com/reasonswhy-christians-should-study-history/ . (5%)
o A timeline combining the main events from the Hebrew Bible with the
material from our textbooks. The project can take many forms and students
are encouraged to use creativity in its creation (examples: board game, music,
poetry, website, map, art, fashion, PowerPoint presentation, laser light show,
etc. – but please, no body tattoos.). (15%)

Participation (5%): All students are expected to attend class,
be punctual, and participate appropriately in classroom
discussion. To engage in classroom discussion of the assigned
reading it is imperative that all reading assignments be
conducted in a timely fashion. Be prepared or we may have to
resort to the scenario found at the following url;
http://www.kevinstilley.com/a-warning-for-my-students/.
Attendance will be recorded at the beginning of all class
sessions. Absences or tardiness will adversely affect your grade.
Absences in excess of six will result in an automatic failure of
the class. Students are free to record the class. Guests are
generally welcome, but please notify the instructor in advance.
Laptops, smart phones, and similar devices may NOT be used
during class as their usefulness is far outweighed by their ability
to create a distraction.
“This is what I have tried to
do for students in insisting
that they come to class
regularly, after having
carefully read the text. The
student who does not do this
work himself is unteachable.
No teacher can really help
him.” (James V. Schall, in
A Students Guide to Liberal
Learning)
Grades
Grades will be determined by the following scale: 100-98 (A+); 97-93 = A; 92-90 (A-);
89-88(B+); 87-83 (B); 82-80 (B-); 79-78 (C+); 77-73 (C); 72-70 (C-); 69-68 (D+); 67-63
(D); 62-60 (D-); Below 60 = F.
“When a man is busy at study, the Evil Impulse whispers to him: Why tarryest thou here.
Go and join the men who flirt with pretty women.” - Talmud, Zohar, ii, 265b
Tentative Schedule
HIS 1103-A
Topic
Assignment Due Today
August 25
Introduction to Course Discussion of Syllabus
Please print out and bring your syllabus to
this class session.
Be prepared to share the following in 30
seconds – 1) where you are from, 2) why you
are at Southwestern, and 3) something about
you that is interesting.
August 30
What Is History and Why Should Recommended:
It Be Important to Christians?
 Chapter 1 of Old Testament Times,
by R.K. Harrison [available as a pdf
on Blackboard]
Turn In:
 In the style of a David Letterman’s
Top 10 List, “Reasons Why
Christians Should Be Interested In
History?”
September 1
Pre-history
Read:


Bauer, Preface
The Everlasting Man - Chapter 2
(available on Blackboard)
Recommended:
 Genesis 1-11
September 6
Sumer & Akkad
Read:

Bauer, chapters 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 17
Recommended:
 Genesis 12
September 8
Egypt
The Patriarchal Period
September 13
September 15
September 20
Read:

Hyksos, Hammurabi, Moses &
The Nation of Israel
Read:
Hittites, Philistines, The United
and Divided Kingdoms of Israel
Read:
Assyria, Babylon, the Medes &
The Persians
Read:

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
Bauer chapter 4, 7, 9, 11, 15
Bauer chapters 23, 27, 32
Bauer chapters 26, 34, 39, 45
Bauer pp. 371-390, 410-417, 443468
September 22
Review for Exam #1
Daniel at the Crossroads of Time
& Space
Read:
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
The Old Testament Book of Daniel
The Story of Susanna, The Song of
Three Children, & The Story of Bel
and The Dragon from the Apocrypha
[pages 347-368]
Recommended:
 The Old Testament Books of Ezra,
Nehemiah, and Esther
September 27
September 29
Examination #1
Examination #1 – On Blackboard
Expect lots of geography on this
first exam.
Take this exam online sometime after the
Sept. 22 class and before midnight Sept.27
“Meanwhile in Greece…”
Read:
The Minoans, Mycenaeans and
Trojan War
Greek Mythology, Religion and
History
October 4
October 6
October 11

Bauer pp. 183-190, 224-228, 253257, 281-284
Recommended:
 Hellenistic-Roman Religions, by
Everett Ferguson (available on
Blackboard)
The Persian Wars
History Channel Video: The 300
Read:
History Channel Video: The 300
(pt. 2) – Birth of Democracy and
The Golden Age
Read:
The Peloponnesian Wars
Read:
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

Bauer pp. 350-352, 354-358, 418430
Bauer pp. 514-534
Bauer pp. 539-554; 570-575
October 13
Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Recommended:
 Philosophy Before Socrates, by John
Mark Reynolds (available on
Blackboard)
October 18
The Sophists, Socrates, Plato &
Aristotle
Recommended:
 Plato and Aristotle, by Donald
Palmer (available on Blackboard)
October 20
Hellenistic & Early Roman
Philosophy
Recommended:
 Stoics, Cynics, Epicureans, and
Sceptics, by A. H. Armstrong
(available on Blackboard)
October 25
Alexander the Great
Read:

Bauer pp. 575-582; 591-607
October 27
Examination #2
Examination #2 – On Blackboard
Take this exam online sometime after the
October 25 class and before midnight
October 27
November 1
Six Flags Over Israel
Read:

The First Book of Maccabees [page
373-441 of The Apocrypha]
November 3
Discussion : Romulus to Hannibal Read:
View: Drive-Thru History – Rome
 Bauer pp. 358-360, 431-436, 469Episode 1
480, 555-561, 584-590, 607, 625627, 629-641
November 8
Read:
Discussion: Roman Prosperity
View: Drive-Thru History – Rome
 Bauer pp. 641-647, 659-673, 676Episode 2
678
November 10
Read:
Discussion: Roman Empire
View: Drive-Thru History – Rome
 Bauer pp. 680-696, 697-711
Episode 3
November 15
A Survey of the Roman Emperors Read:

November 17
November
22 & 24
November 29
Bauer pp. 717-734
The Roman Provincial System & Recommended:
Jewish Life at the Time of Christ
 Josephus, chapters 17-19
Asia Minor and The Ethnogenesis Turn In:
of Western Civilization
 A timeline combining the main
events from the Hebrew Bible with
the material from our textbooks.
Thanksgiving Break - No Class
No Class
The Jewish War
Recommended:
 Josephus, chapters 20-23
December 1
Destruction of the Temple & The Read:
Fall of Masada
 Josephus, chapters 24-27
December 6
Western Civilization & The
Kingdom of God
Read:

Bauer pp. 735-744, 751-756, 759777
Recommended:
 Genesis 1-11
 Daniel 2
 Matthew
 Revelation 1
Dec. 13 – 3:00
Final Examination
Final Examination In Class