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HIST 101 – World History to 1500
SAMPLE SYLLABUS
MWF 10:00-10:50 am
Professor Amanda López, Ph.D.
Course Description:
In this survey of the human experience from the Neolithic period to roughly 1500 C.E.,
we will focus on the themes of political structure, cultural tradition, and social hierarchy
in a variety of civilizations, including ancient, classical, and early modern. By utilizing a
global comparative perspective, we will explore patterns of continuity and change over
time in culture and society and look for relevant connections between the past and the
present. Students will come away from the course with knowledge about the social,
political, and cultural history of early societies and empires and be able to compare and
contrast historical events and developments over time.
Required Reading*:
Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Vol. 1: To
1500. New York: Bedford St. Martins Press, 2011.
Whitfield, Susan. Life Along the Silk Road. Berkeley: University of California Press,
2001.
*I may also assign short articles to enhance lecture and discussion. These are TBA, and
will be posted on Blackboard.
Technology Integration: Course materials, including syllabus, assignments, reading, and
grades will be posted on Blackboard. In the classroom, PowerPoint, online media, and
films will be used to enhance instructional content.
Course Grades: All assignments will be graded on a 100-point scale. They will be
averaged and weighted to calculate your final grade based on the percentages below.
Extra credit will be offered at the instructor’s discretion and always offered to all students
in the class.
A – 100-90
B – 89-80
C – 79-70
D – 69-60
F – 59-0
Assignments and Tests (Weighted Value):
Quizzes (every Monday)– 15%
Other Exercises (In-Class or Take-Home)– 10%
Writing Assignments – 20%
Plagiarism Exercise – 5%
Class Participation – 10%
Midterm Exam– 20%
Final Exam – 20%
Reading Quizzes: Reading Quizzes will be held at the beginning of class every
Monday, unless otherwise announced. Quizzes are based on the reading
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assignment due that day and will consist of short answer and true/false. These
quizzes are designed to encourage you to keep up with the reading and test you
over basic knowledge and reading comprehension. Quizzes are in-class only. NO
MAKEUPS ARE ALLOWED. The TWO lowest quiz grades will be DROPPED
at the end of the semester to accommodate any excused or unexcused absences.
Other Exercises: On discussion days (generally Fridays), you will complete
individually or in a group a worksheet based on the assigned primary documents
or class activity. Therefore, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING YOUR BOOK
ON DISCUSSION DAYS. These assignments are graded on a completion basis.
All work must be your own (and in your own words) and answers must be
thorough to receive full credit. Should you need to miss class, exercises will be
posted on Blackboard and can be turned in the following class for credit.
Plagiarism Exercise: We will be spending one class before your first paper is
due discussing plagiarism and proper citations. All students MUST attend this
class and complete and sign the plagiarism worksheet. Students who do not
complete the worksheet will receive a ZERO on the plagiarism exercise and a
ZERO on class participation.
Writing Assignments: There will be 3 writing assignments due during the
semester. If you complete all 3 essays, your lowest essay score will be dropped at
the end of the semester. Plagiarized essays DO NOT count as completed essays.
Understanding history is more than dates and facts. Writing assignments will help
you think critically about how events and processes have changed over time and
the larger significance of political, social and cultural change. Specific directions
for each essay will be posted on Blackboard 1-2 weeks before each assignment is
due.
Midterm and Final Exams: Both exams will be held in class. The exams will
be a combination of multiple choice, historical identifications, short answer, and
essay. There will be an in-class review session before each exam.
Class Participation & Conduct: Our class time will include a mixture of lecture
and discussion. You will earn full participation points by attending class and
actively contributing to discussion. Active contribution includes listening and
taking notes, asking questions, and offering insightful comments on discussion
days. Disruptive activities in class, such as sleeping, texting, browsing the
internet, or talking during lecture will negatively affect your grade.
Attendance is taken daily at the beginning of class. Absences will be excused with
a doctor’s note or other documentation that provides a legitimate reason for your
absence. Students are expected to arrive on time and stay for the duration of the
class. If you need to arrive late or leave early, you must provide good reason for
this disruption before the class. More than 5 unexcused absences will result in
a 0% in class participation, lowering your grade by a full letter.
Academic Integrity:
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All work in this class must be your own. Academic dishonesty, such as cheating or
plagiarism, will not be tolerated. The use of outside material must be properly cited, as
should any direct quotations from our class texts. The university’s policy is available in
the Undergraduate Academic Catalog, at http://catalog.sxu.edu/undergraduate/aca_integrity.html
Cases of plagiarism will result in a 0 on the assignment and possible failure of the
course. It is my experience that most cases of plagiarism are due to misunderstanding
rather than dishonesty, but both will be penalized equally. If you have ANY DOUBTS
about what constitutes plagiarism, please visit me in office hours.
Disability Accommodations:
A variety of options are available to students with disabilities to help them achieve the
success they desire. Students who have disability documentation can present it to me
either in office hours or after class and discuss specific arrangements. If you believe that
you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Learning Center and
Disability Services (LCDS) in L-108 or call (773) 298-3308 for an appointment to
discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. LCDS is responsible
for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue students with
documented disabilities “Confidential Accommodation Plan” letters, as appropriate.
Office Hours:
I believe that a good classroom environment is built on mutual respect and friendliness
and I encourage you all to come visit me during my office hours to discuss this class and
any other questions you may have. To help us get to know one another, all students are
required to visit my office hours once in the first three weeks of class. I will be happy to
discuss the readings with you one-on-one or discuss your exams and papers throughout
the semester. If you need to arrange a meeting outside of office hours, it is best to contact
me through email.
Reading and Assignment Schedule (subject to change):
Week 1:
22 Aug – Course Introduction & Discussion: What is “World History”
24 Aug – Lecture: Early Humans
Ways of the World: Chapter 1—read all
26 Aug – View Documentary and Worksheet: Becoming Human, PBS
Nova
Week 2:
29 Aug – Lecture: Early Civilizations
Ways of the World: Chapter 3, pgs. 85-103
Quiz #1
31 Aug – Lecture: Early Civilizations in Focus: Mesopotamia and
Egypt
Ways of the World: Chapter 3, pgs. 103-113
2 Sep–Discussion on Kingship and Laws in Early Civilizations
Ways of the World: Chapter 3, read Documents 3.1, 3.2, 3.4
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Week 3:
5 Sep- LABOR DAY: NO CLASS
7 Sep- Lecture: Classical Civilizations in the East and West
Ways of the World: Part Two, pgs.133-139
Quiz #2
9 Sep – Lecture: Classical Civilizations in Focus: Greece and Persia
Ways of the World: Chapter 4, pgs. 143-154
Week 4:
12 Sep – Lecture: Classical Civilizations in Focus: Rome
Ways of the World: Chapter 4, pgs. 154-165
Quiz #3
14 Sep – Lecture: Classical Civilizations in Focus: China and India
Ways of the World: Chapter 4, pgs. 165-168; Documents 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
16 Sep – Plagiarism Exercise
Week 5:
19 Sep – Lecture: Cultural Traditions in Classical Civilization—
Eastern Philosophies and Religions—China
Ways of the World: Chapter 5, pgs. 189-197
Quiz #4
21 Sep – Lecture: Eastern Philosophies and Religions, cont.—India
Ways of the World: Chapter 5, pgs. 197-202
23 Sep – Discussion on Eastern Religions
Ways of the World: 5.1, 5.2, Buddhism document available on Blackboard
Week 6:
26 Sep – Lecture: Cultural Traditions in Classical Civilizations—
Western Philosophies and Religions—the Middle East
Ways of the World: Chapter 5, pgs. 202-205
Quiz #5
28 Sep – Lecture: Western Philosophies and Religions, cont.—Greece
and Rome
Ways of the World: Chapter 5, pgs. 205-215
30 Sep – Discussion on Monotheism and Rationalism
Ways of the World: Documents 5.3, 5.4
Week 7:
3 Oct – Daily Life and Society in Classical Civilizations—Social
Hierarchies
Ways of the World: Chapter 6, pgs. 237-252
Quiz #6
5 Oct – Daily Life and Society, cont—Gender Hierarchies and the
Role of Women
Ways of the World: Chapter 6, pgs. 252-259
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7 Oct – Writing Assignment #1 DUE IN CLASS
Week 8:
10 Oct – Lecture: Civilizations on the Edge in the Classical Era—
Africa and the Americas
Ways of the World: Chapter 7, pgs. 281-297; Visual Sources, pgs. 316-323
12 Oct – Midterm Review--Optional
14 Oct – MIDTERM—IN CLASS
(Begin reading Life Along the Silk Road for Writing Assignment #2, Due
Oct. 31 in class).
Week 9:
17 Oct – Lecture: Commercial and Cultural Exchange and Empires,
Old and New—Empire in Asia
Ways of the World: Part Three, pgs. 325-331, Chapter 9, pgs. 379-390
Quiz #7
19 Oct– Lecture: Empire in Asia
Ways of the World: Chapter 9, pgs. 390-404
21 Oct– Discussion on Chinese and Japanese society
Ways of the World: Documents 9.4, 9.5, Visual Sources
Week 10:
24 Oct –Lecture: Commercial and Cultural Exchange
Ways of the World: Chapter 8, pgs. 333-351
Quiz #8
Remember to be reading Life Along the Silk Road!
26 Oct – NO CLASS – Read Life Along the Silk Road and prepare your
paper. Students may meet with me during class or office hours to go over
rough drafts.
28 Oct – NO CLASS – Read Life Along the Silk Road and prepare your
paper. Students may meet with me during class or office hours to go over
rough drafts.
Week 11:
31 Oct – Discussion of Life Along the Silk Road
Writing Assignment #2 Due in Class
2 Nov – Lecture: World Religions and Empire—Christianity
Ways of the World: Chapter 10, pgs. 425-436, Document 10.2
Quiz #9
4 Nov – Lecture: World Religions and Society—Christianity, cont
Ways of the World: Chapter 10, pgs. 436-453
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Week 12:
7 Nov – Lecture: World Religions and Empire—Islam
Ways of the World: Chapter 11, pgs. 473-486
Quiz #10
9 Nov – Lecture: World Religions and Society—Islam, cont.
Ways of the World: Chapter 11, pgs. 486-500
11 Nov – Discussion on Islam
Ways of the World: Documents 11.1, 11.2, 11.3
Week 13:
14 Nov – Lecture: Empires and Expansion—the Mongol Empire
Ways of the World: Chapter 12, 521-528 (except “Xiongnu"), 529-536
(Beginning with “Breakout”)
Quiz #11
16 Nov – Lecture: Empires and Expansion—Mongol Empires, cont.
Ways of the World: Chapter 12, pgs. 536-544
18 Nov – Discussion of Writing Assignment #3 (instructions will be
posted on Blackboard)
Week 14:
21 Nov – Lecture: Living and Dying in the Early Modern World
Ways of the World: Chapter 12, pgs. 545-547, Visual Sources on Black
Death, pgs. 560-566.
23 Nov – THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS
25 Nov – THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS
Week 15:
28 Nov – Lecture: Cultural Renewal and the Dawn of Exploration
Ways of the World: Chapter 13, pgs. 575-584
Quiz #12
30 Nov – Lecture: Civilizations in the Americas on the Eve of Contact
Ways of the World: Chapter 13, pgs. 588-595
2 Dec – FINAL EXAM REVIEW
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!
FINAL EXAM: Friday, December 9, 10:00 am – 11:50 am