HIST 1311-06
HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION I
TR 10:50-12:05; ROSS HALL 122
SPRING 2015
INSTRUCTOR
INSTRUCTOR’S E-MAIL
OFFICE HOURS
Mrs. Joanna Hladun Newkirk, MA
jmhladunnew@ualr.edu
Time by Appointment
Course Description
This course is a study of ancient world civilizations, and the interactions between them. Three credit
hours. The recommended prerequisite is RHET 1311.
Course Objectives
 Students will demonstrate knowledge of historical information, such as names, dates and
chronologies, events, terms, and concepts.
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Students will demonstrate understanding of the diversity and complexity of the historical context
that shapes human experience.
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Students will demonstrate understanding of the inter-relatedness of historical events as expressed
with concepts of continuity and change, causation, cultural interdependence, and interaction
between differing groups and societies.
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Students will organize and articulate ideas in an essay with a thesis relevant to the question.
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Students will support their ideas with historical evidence and reach conclusions based on it.
Required Text
Robert W. Strayer, Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources (Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin's, 2nd edition, 2013)
Students with Disabilities
Your success in this class is important to me, and it is the policy of the University of Arkansas at Little
Rock to create inclusive learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have a
documented disability (or need to have a disability documented), and need an accommodation, please
contact me privately as soon as possible, so we can discuss with the Disability Resource Center (DRC)
how to meet your specific needs and the requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and
coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are
established though an interactive process with you, the instructor, and the DRC. Thus, if you have a
disability, please contact me and/or the DRC, at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or 501-683-7629 (VP). For more
information, please visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability.
Academic Integrity
While history essays are partly based on information or ideas not your own, your work must reflect your
own thoughts, words, and efforts. When copying phrases, sentences, or paragraphs word-for-word from
any source, you must put them within quotation marks and insert a footnote indicating the source (author,
book title, publication details, year of publication, page numbers). When you rephrase others’ ideas or
words, you must insert a footnote indicating the source (author, book title, publication, year, pages). If the
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source is a website, the footnote must have the complete web address and the date you accessed it.
Generally, it is NEVER acceptable to submit a history essay without footnotes AND bibliography.
Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this class, may be reported to the Office of the
Dean of Students, and could result in a failing grade on the assignment, course failure, and/or harsher
penalties. If you are unclear about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please ask me.
Classroom Etiquette
As undergraduate study at UALR is a professional experience, it is vital to maintain professional and
mature behaviour at all times. Any form of behavior that that could be construed as rude, disrespectful, or
disruptive to other students or to the instructor will be dealt with according to Part II of the UALR Student
Handbook (http://ualr.edu/deanofstudents/files/2014/07/StudentHandbook2013.pdf, pp. 57-99).
Using cellular phones, Ipods, and other electronic devises in class for any reason is considered
disruption. Bringing any form of food to class is prohibited. Students who violate these standards will be
asked to leave the classroom.
While taking quizzes or tests, students are not allowed to leave the classroom. If they do, their work will
be collected and graded as if they had finished.
Communication and returning assignments
As this is a face-to-face class that meets two days a week, it will be easy for student-instructor
communication to occur within class time. Students who need to contact me outside of class, should send
e-mail messages to me from their UALR e-mail accounts. As I check my e-mail every day, I should be
able to respond within 24 hours. Concerning submitted assignments, I return them within one week.
All personal issues should be discussed with the instructor after the class session has ended. Class time
will be entirely devoted to questions concerning course content (assignments, lectures, etc.).
Attendance
Students are expected to attend class regularly. Attendance will be checked every class. Students who
miss class four or more consecutive time will be administratively withdrawn. If students miss
scheduled quizzes and tests without explanation, their grades will be negatively affected. If students miss
class, they must borrow notes or distributed materials from classmates, not from the instructor.
Grades
The final grade will be based on the following:
Participation
Quizzes
Tests
Final Examination
20%
20%
40%
20%
The UALR grading scale is as follows:
90%-100%
80%-89%
70-79%
60-69%
0-59%
A
B
C
D
F
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Students will be informed of their progress twice, during midterm week and during the last week of the
semester. It is the responsibility of students to calculate their grades by themselves on a regular basis.
Assignments
These consist of quizzes, tests, a final exam, writing assignments, and oral participation. All assignments
are designed to develop students’ skills in critical thinking and application. Out-of-class work consists of
assigned readings in the textbook and occasional writing assignments. In-class quizzes consist of
multiple-choice and short-answer questions. In-class tests and the final consist of multiple-choice and
short-answer questions and interpretations of primary sources (texts and visual). Participation entails
written and oral analyses of reading assignments and primary sources (occasional writing assignments are
based on guided questions). Please see the Course Outline for due dates (p. 5).
Since the dates of tests and quizzes are announced ahead of time (see below), absences will
automatically result in 0. However, students who provide an official excuse for the absence (doctor,
emergency room, etc.) have a chance to take a make-up quiz or test. If it is a test, the make-up will be
scheduled at a time other than scheduled class. If students do not notify the instructor within one
week, the quiz or test grade will remain 0.
No extra time will be given to students who are late to class on quiz or test days.
After being graded by the instructor and viewed by the students, quizzes and tests will be collected and
placed in the instructor’s file until the end of the course. A quiz with the lowest score will be dropped at
the end of the semester.
There is no midterm exam. The final exam is based on the last chapters of the textbook.
Participation is based on completing assigned reading BEFORE each class, and completing written
classwork by the end of the class. If absent, students must submit their answers the following class.
STUDENTS MUST READ ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE CLASS
Students who often do not participate in classes devoted to interpreting primary sources, or who
are often absent from those classes, may receive additional work.
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Course Schedule
Please note that the course schedule is the study guide for quizzes and tests.
January 13
Introduction, syllabus, etc.
January 15
Chapter 2
Something New: Emergence of Civilization; Erosion of Equality; Rise of the State
Comparing Mesopotamia and Egypt; Reflections: “Civilization”: What’s in a Word?
Documents 2.1, 2.2, 2.4; Visual Sources 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
January 20
Chapter 3
Empires and Civilizations in Collision: Persians and Greeks
Quiz # 1 (chapter 2)
January 22
Chapter 3
Comparing Empires: Roman and Chinese
Intermittent Empire: Case of India; Reflections: Classical Empires & the XX century
January 27
Chapter 4
China & the Search for Order; Cultural Traditions of Classical India; Moving Toward
Monotheism: Zoroastrianism, Judaism
Quiz # 2 (chapter 3)
January 29
Chapter 4
Tradition of Classical Greece; Search for Rational Order; Comparing Jesus & Buddha
Reflections: Religion and Historians considering the Evidence; Documents 4.1, 4.2;
Visual Sources 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 (Representation of the Buddha)
February 3
Test #1
Chapters 2, 3, 4
February 5
Chapter 5
Society and State in classical China; Class and Caste in India
February 10
Chapter 5
Slavery in Classical Era: Case of Roman Empire; Comparing Patriarchies
Visual Sources 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 (Pompeii as Window on the Roman World)
February 12
Chapter 6
Civilizations of Africa: Meroe, Axum, stateless societies along the Niger River.
World of Bantu Africa (pg. 282)
Quiz# 3 (chapter 5)
February 17
Chapter 6
Civilizations of Mesoamerica; Civilizations of Andes; North America in Classical Era.
Documents 6.1, 6.3, 6.5 (Axum & the World); Visual Sources (Mayan civilization)
February 19
Chapter 7
Silk Roads: Exchange across Eurasia; Sea Roads: Exchange across the Indian Ocean.
Quiz # 4 (chapter 6)
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February 24
Chapter 7
Sand Roads: Exchange across the Sahara; An American Network: Commerce &
Connection in Western Hemisphere
Visual Sources (Traveling the Silk Roads))
February 26
Test # 2
Chapters 5, 6, 7
March 3
Chapter 8
Reemergence of Unified China (Sui, Tang, Song); China & Northern Nomads; Coping
with China: Comparing Korea, Vietnam, Japan
March 5
Chapter 8
China & Eurasian World Economy; China and Buddhism
Documents 8.1, 8.3; Visual Sources
March 10
Chapter 9
Birth of a new Religion - Islam. Making of an Arab Empire.
Quiz # 5 (chapter 8)
March 12
Chapter 9
Islam & Cultural Encounter. A Four Way Comparison.
March 17
Chapter 10
Christian Contraction in Asia & Africa. Byzantine Christendom: Building on Roman Past
Quiz # 6 (chapter 9)
March 19
Chapter 10
Western Christendom. The West in Comparative Perspective.
Visual Sources: Reading Byzantine Icons.
March 31
Test # 3
Chapters 8, 9, 10
Article: “Southernization” will be distributed.
April 2
Chapter 11
Looking Back & Looking Around: Long History of Pastoral Nomads; Mongol Empire
April 7
Chapter 11
Encountering the Mongols: Comparing 3 Cases; Mongol Empire as Eurasian Network
Visual Sources (The “Black Death” & Religion in Western Europe)
April 9
Chapter 12
Shapes of Human Communities; Civilizations of XV century: Ming China & Europe
Quiz # 7 (chapter 11)
April 14
Chapter 12
Civilizations of XV Century: Islamic World
April 16
Chapter 12
Review of Ch. 12 (so far)
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April 21
Chapter 12
The Americas (Aztecs & Incas)
April 23
Review
“Southernization” – an article by Lynda Shaffer. Worksheet due at end of class
April 28
Review
Outline maps
April 30
Student Study Day
Please bring your SPECIFIC questions to class.
May 5
Consultation day
Appointments should be made via email.
May 7
Final Exam chapters 11 and 12 (including visual sources and outline maps)
(10:50-12:05) No extra time will be given to late students.
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This is a useful website for studying maps: http://www.freeworldmaps.net/index.html
The instructor reserves the right to make scheduling changes.
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Course Agreement Form
Please read, complete, and return to instructor:
I, _______________________________ (please print), have read the course syllabus and understand and
am willing to follow the following requirements and policies concerning:
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Course resources
Grading
Attendance
Accommodations
Classroom etiquette
Student’s signature:
_____________________________________
UALR email address:
_____________________________________
Date:
_____________________________________