HISTORY 111
WORLD HISTORY TO 1500
(History is a series of arguments to be debated, not a body of data to be recorded
of a set of facts to be memorized.)1
Spring, 2008
M/W/F 10:00 — 10:50
Hyde Hall 105
E-Mail ap3@evansville.edu
Dr. Annette Parks
Office: Olmstead 341
Tel: 488.1070
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Bentley, Ziegler, Streets Traditions and Encounters: A Brief Global History Vol I
(McGraw Hill, 2008) T/E
D. T. Niane, ed. Sundiata An Epic of Old Mali (Longman, 2006)
Jack Weatherford The History of Money (Three Rivers Press, 1997)
COURSE OBJECTIVES: survey: to take a general view of; to appraise; to
examine carefully. History 111 is a survey course that examines the major
political, religious and cultural developments in Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean
basin, Europe and the Americas from ca 3000 B.C.E. to 1500 C.E. The
broadness of the topic as well as the class size dictate that the course will
generally be a "fast-forward" trip through history with pauses to examine
events and persons of major significance to the history of the regions we will
discuss.
For each of the cultures we discuss we will address 3 broad issues.
First, what is unique about that culture and what factor(s) make it
so?
Second, contrasts between the culture we're studying, others in the
course and our own.
Third, we will try to see cultures through the eyes of those closest to
them by examining primary sources. Hopefully this will help us
better understand cultures on their own terms rather than modern
ones.
Robin W. Winks and Teofilo F. Ruiz Medieval Europe and the World (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2005)xi
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METHODOLOGY
Course instruction will be a combination of lectures and class discussion
centering on how political priorities may be shaped by geography, climate,
social structures, or cultural values. Gender roles and attitudes as well as
reading and interpreting primary source documents will be prominent features
of the course.
The course textbook will serve to help you organize ideas and facts. While the
lectures will magnify certain ideas, they are not intended to give comprehensive
coverage of the text chapters. Students are expected to come to each class
prepared to discuss the material they have read or to ask questions about
it.
GOALS FOR STUDENT LEARNING:
To acquire basic factual information about the societies we cover
To learn to critically read and analyze primary source documents
To develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills by learning to
separate evidence from conclusions
To exercise written and oral communication skills through focused
writing and discussion of ideas
Please note that this is a 100 level course because it is a survey not because it
is “an easy A”. The reading load for this course is moderate to heavy and you
can reasonably expect to spend a minimum of two hours of outside preparation
for every hour in class.
READING ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Reading
assignments are listed on your syllabus and are to be read prior to the class
meeting for which they are listed. Unless otherwise indicated, all supplemental
readings will be posted on BLACKBOARD. Class participation will make up
20% of the final course grade.
In addition to regular class meetings, there will be opportunities to earn Class
Participation credit by attending films that are part of the One World Film
series. Assignment details as well as dates and times of the films will be posted
to BLACKBOARD.
EXAMS: There will be one essay exam given during the term in addition to a
two hour final exam at the end of the semester. Exam dates are listed on the
syllabus. Essays will be graded on form as well as content and are designed
not only to test your command of factual data, but your ability to analyze the
available facts, draw informed conclusions and construct well reasoned and
well written essays. The first essay exam will count for 20% of the final grade
and the final exam will count for 30% of the final grade.
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Ordinarily, there will be no make-ups given for the essay exams. If the first
exam is missed, its points may be added to the final. If the final is missed,
30% of the course grade will be forfeited. Please check the exam dates against
your schedule now to avoid conflicts later.
ANALYTICAL PAPER: Students will write one 4-6 page (typewritten and
double-spaced) paper analyzing a primary source document. Detailed
guidelines will be distributed in a separate document; the paper will count for
15% of the final grade.
MATERIAL CULTURE PROJECT OR BIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH PAPER:
Students may choose to either write a 7 – 10 page paper or to produce an
artifact associated with one of the cultures we will discuss in the class along
with a 3 – 5 page paper discussing their research for the artifact. In either
case, the focus of the project should be the concept of beauty as defined by the
subject culture. Project or paper will count for 15% of the final grade and
detailed guidelines will be distributed in a separate document
CLASS ATTENDANCE: For this class, which meets 3 times a week, you are
allowed three (3) absences without an automatic grade deduction for the
course; however please note that missed assignments or quizzes may affect
your grade with less than 3 absences. After a third absence, your participation
grade will suffer a 5% grade deduction for each subsequent absence.
This class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the time indicated
above. Regular attendance is strongly recommended because in addition to the
attendance policy, exam material will be drawn heavily from lectures and class
discussion. Please note that showing up for class does not count as class
participation. If you do have to miss a class, please remember that it is your
responsibility to get notes, handouts, or other material missed from the class.
EXTRA CREDIT WORK: I do not usually assign extra credit projects.
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GRADING POLICY:
A
B
C
D
F
Outstanding achievement in both form and content
Superior achievement
Average achievement
Below average achievement. Passing, but just barely.
Failure to achieve class goals.
GRADE SCALE:
A
95+
A90-94
B+
87-89
B
84-86
B80-83
C+
77-79
C
74-76
C70-73
D
60-69
F
59The final grade for the course will be calculated based on the following
percentages:
20%
15%
15%
20%
30%
Class Participation
Analysis Paper
Project or Paper
Essay Exam
Final Exam
EXAM SCHEDULE:
First Exam: Friday, February 22
Final Exam: Friday, May 2 @ 12:30
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
It is each student's responsibility to be familiar with the University's Honor
Code and with the policy on cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is broadly
defined as giving, taking, or using unauthorized assistance during exams.
Students found cheating on exams will receive an automatic F for the
assignment and may, at the instructor's discretion, receive an F for the course.
The matter will also be referred to the Dean of Students and the Honor Council
for further action.
Plagiarism is defined broadly as the misrepresentation of someone else's work
as your own. For example, taking direct or slightly paraphrased quotes from a
book, article, Internet site, another student's (current or previous) paper, etc.,
and using it without properly citing the source. Most plagiarism is accidental,
the result of careless note taking; nevertheless, it is the student's responsibility
to ensure that work is properly cited. Assignments containing plagiarized
material will receive an automatic F and the student may, at the discretion of
the instructor, receive an F for the course. The matter will also be referred to
the Dean of Students and the Honor Council for further action.
Accommodating Students With Disabilities
It is the policy and practice of the University of Evansville to make reasonable
accommodation for students with properly documented disabilities. Written
notification to faculty from the Office of Counseling and Health Education is
required for any academic accommodation. If you are eligible to receive an
accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it
with me and allow two weeks notice. Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the
accommodation can be received on a timely basis. If you have questions about
services for students with disabilities or procedures for requesting services, you
may contact the Office of Counseling and Health Education at 488-2663.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
1.
My office is located at Olmsted Hall 341 and office hours are:
Mon 11:00 – 11:45
4:00 – 5:00
Wed 11:00 – 11:45
1:45 – 2:45
Fri
11:00 – 11:45
1:45 – 2:45
4:00 – 5:00
Or by appointment
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If you have questions or problems, do not hesitate to come and talk with
me during office hours, or make an appointment to do so. If you’re
having difficulties, don’t wait until it’s too late to improve the
situation!
2.
You may use your laptop computer to take notes or for other legitimate
purposes in the classroom. Other electronic equipment (e.g. cell phones,
IPods, etc.,) should be turned off and put away while class is in session.
Violation of the policy will result in the privilege of using laptops being
revoked for all students.
3.
It is hoped that class discussions will be lively and engaging as well
thoughtful and perhaps even provocative. However, we will at all times
maintain civil discourse and an atmosphere of respect.
4.
If you have questions, ask.
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READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Week 1
Jan 9:
Jan 11:
ORIENTATION AND INTRODUCTION
The Historian’s Craft: Uncovering Facts,
Providing Interpretation & Meaning
“In A Grove” -- posted on BLACKBOARD
Jan 14:
T/E Chapter 1 – Early Societies in the Ancient Near
East
The Agricultural Revolution
Rise of Civilization in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Code of Hammurabi -- posted
on BLACKBOARD
The Hebrews, The Hittites and The Assyrians
Exodus 22:12 -- 3:13; Deuteronomy 7
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Week 2
Jan 16:
Jan 18:
Week 3
Jan 21:
Jan 23:
Jan 25:
MLK HOLIDAY – NO CLASSES
T/E Chapters 2 and 16 – Africa
Making a Living in Ancient Egypt –
posted on BLACKBOARD
Africa
Week 4
Jan 28:
Jan 31:
Feb 1:
T/E Chapters 3 (pgs. 43-51) and 7 -- India
Laws of Manu, Vikrama’s Adventures, Dandin –
posted on BLACKBOARD
Principle Tenets of Hinduism
and Buddhism -- posted on BLACKBOARD
T/E Chapter 5 -- Persia
Week 5
Feb
Feb
4:
6:
T/E Chapters 3 (pgs. 51 – 59) 6 and 12 -- China
The Mandate of Heaven; Ban Zhou’s Lessons
for Women – posted on BLACKBOARD
Feb
8:
China
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Week 6
Feb 11:
Feb 13:
Feb 15:
T/E Chapters 4 and 18 – The Americas
Pedro de Cieza de Leon, Chronicles –
posted on BLACKBOARD
The Americas
ANALYTICAL PAPER DUE
Week 7
Feb 18:
Feb 20:
Feb 22:
Sundiata
Sundiata
FIRST EXAM
Feb 25:
T/E Chapter 8 (pgs. 132 – 143) Greece
Dark Age Greece and the Emergence of the Polis
Excerpts: "Lycurgus" from Plutarch, On Sparta; Solon’s
poetry in Harper Collins World Reader -posted on BLACKBOARD
Greece at War
Persian Wars
Peloponnesian Wars
Excerpts from Herodotus The Battle of Thermopylae;
Thucydides’ Peloponnesian Wars –
posted on BLACKBOARD
Alexander and the Hellenistic East
Week 8
Feb 27:
Feb 29:
Week 9
MARCH 3 – MARCH 7 SPRING BREAK
Week 10
Mar 10:
Mar 12:
Mar 14:
T/E Chapter 8 (pgs. 143 – 153) -- Rome
Early Monarchy and Foundation of the Republic
Excerpts from Livy’s History of Rome –
posted on BLACKBOARD
The End of the Empire and The Benefits of the
Pax Romana
Romans and Christians – from the Roman perspective
Week 11
Mar 17:
Mar 19:
Mar 21:
A.M. H. Jones: “Why Did the Western Empire Fall?” –
posted on BLACKBOARD
Successors to the Western Empire: Byzantium
EASTER BREAK – NO CLASSES
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Week 12
Mar 24:
Mar 26:
Mar 28:
EASTER BREAK – NO CLASSES
Successors to the Western Empire: The Islam Empires
HANDOUT: Excerpts from The Koran; The Smoothed
Path -- posted on BLACKBOARD
Mar 30:
Apr 2:
Apr 4:
The History of Money (Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2)
The History of Money (excerpts)
EASTER BREAK – NO CLASSES
Apr
7:
Apr
9:
Apr 11:
EASTER BREAK – NO CLASSES
Japan (time to buy a present for Dr. P)
Japan
Lady Murasaki Shikibu’s Diary; Sei Shonajan Pillow
Book – posted on BLACKBOARD
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Apr 14:
T/E Chapter 14 Medieval Europe
The Early Middle Ages: From Rome to Aachen
Excerpts from Gregory of Tours on Clovis; Excerpts
from Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne – posted on
BLACKBOARD
Apr 16:
Medieval Europe
The Evolution of Medieval Church and Medieval
States
Documents from the Investiture Controversy
http://www.h-net.org/~fisher/hst205/readings/InvestitureControversy.html
Apr 18:
State Building in High Medieval Europe
MATERIAL CULTURE PROJECT/BIOGRAPHICAL
PAPER DUE
Apr 21:
Apr 23:
Apr 25:
Islam and the West – Crusading and Trading
TBA
The World in 1500: Why is Europe Ascendant?
Week 16
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Week 17
Apr 28:
Final Exam:
Course Conclusions
Friday, May 2 @ 12:30 p.m.
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