Southern State Community College
Curriculum Committee – February 2011
HIST 1151 – Introduction to Western Civilization I
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I.
TAG: OHS042
COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Western Civilization I
COURSE NUMBER: 1151
II.
PREREQUISITES: None
III.
CREDIT HOURS: 4
LABORATORY HOURS:
IV.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
CATALOG PREFIX: HIST
LECTURE HOURS: 4
OBSERVATION HOURS:
This course is a survey of Western Civilization from prehistory to 1700. This course will
examine major developments in the political, social, economic, religious, cultural,
intellectual, and technological life of Western Civilization from the Paleolithic Age to the
17th century. The course will begin with an examination of the earliest evidence of
human social existence, then investigate the emergence of the early civilizations of
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Assyria, and Persia. The course will then trace the development of
the Hebrew, Greek, and Roman civilizations and analyze the impact that Judaic and
Greco-Roman principles have had upon the modern world. The course will then examine
the collapse of the Roman Empire, the ”Dark Ages”, and the reemergence of Western
society in the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation, religious warfare,
and the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, and concluding with the “age
of Discovery”.
V.
ADOPTED TEXT (S):
Jackson J. Spielvogel. Western Civilization: A Brief History Vol I, 8th edition
Thomason/Wadsworth Publishing Company. ISBN# 0-534-62721-8.
VI.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this course the student will:
 have an ability to think analytically and critically about historical issues.
 develop a command of the factual material related to the historical periods
covered in the course.
 develop skills relating to analysis of historical data and the ability to use these
skills to make informed decisions regarding the historical record.
 develop/improve writing and communication skills.
HIST 1151 – Introduction to Western Civilization I
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VII.
COURSE METHODOLOGY:
The primary format of the course will be lecture. Instructors may use videos, DVDs, and
other materials at their discretion to supplement the lecture format.
VIII.
GRADING:
Grading will follow policy in the catalog.
IX.
COURSE OUTLINE:
The following historical periods will be covered:
Week 1
Neolithic & Paleolithic Society
Week 2
Early Mesopotamia
Week 3
Early Egypt and the Near East: Nile Civilization, Hebrews, Assyrians,
Persians
Exam #1
Week 4
Early Greek Civilization: Minoan to Emergence of Macedonia
Week 5
Hellenistic Period: Rise of Macedonia to Post Alexandrian Period
Week 6
The Roman Republic
Week 7
Early Roman Empire to 180 AD
Week 8
Late Roman Empire 180 AD to the Fall of Roman
Emergence of Christianity in the Roman World
Exam #2
Week 9
Byzantine Empire and the Emergence of Islam
Carolingian Empire
Week 10
High Middle Ages: Land, Trade, City-Life, Intellectual Culture and Art,
Emergence of European Kingdoms
Week 11
Growing Power of the Church and the Crusades
Late Middle Ages
HIST 1151 – Introduction to Western Civilization I
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X.
Week 12
The Renaissance
Exam #3
Week 13
The Reformation and Religious Warfare
Week 14
Age of Discovery, Impact of European Expansion in the New World
Week 15
17th Century Europe, Absolutism and European Culture
Week 16
Exam #4
OTHER REQUIRED BOOKS, SOFTWARE AND MATERIALS:
At least one supplementary text will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor. Texts
may include historical monographs, biographies, primary source texts etc., that amplify
issues or events of the era to be studied.
XI.
EVALUATION:

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XII.
There will be one final examination
Students are required to write a research paper
Instructors will assign quizzes, examinations, projects, worksheets and other
papers at their own discretion.
SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS:


All out of class papers and research papers must be typed.
The students are periodically informed of their progress.
XIII. OTHER INFORMATION:
FERPA: Students need to understand that your work may be seen by others. Others may
see your work when being distributed, during group project work, or if it is chosen for
demonstration purposes.
Students also need to know that there is a strong possibility that your work may be
submitted to other entities for the purpose of plagiarism checks.
DISABILITIES: Students with disabilities may contact the Disabilities Service Office,
Central Campus, at 800-628-7722 or 937-393-3431.