Hist 1110-04
Fall 2015
TR 9:40-11:05 a.m.
Dr. Yüan-ling Chao
Peck Hall 265 (898-2629); e-mail: ychao@mtsu.edu
Office Hours: MW 10:30-11:30; TR 11:15-1:00, 2:30-3:30 & by appointment
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS TO 1500
This course is designed as a general survey course. Its purpose is not only to introduce
students to the many diverse cultures that helped to shape our world today, but also to develop 1)
critical thinking skills though discussion of primary sources and focus issues, and 2) writing
skills and the ability to formulate and sustain an argument through the use of evidence,
particularly from primary sources.
We will be mainly concerned with broad patterns of human development across cultural
boundaries and emphasize the exchange of ideas, goods, and technology. We will also explore
interaction among the diverse cultures and the processes of change and transformation. Each
civilization developed their own distinctive cultural and religious values and organizational
systems, yet interaction through trade, migration, religious missions, and war helped to foster a
dynamic energy that gave vitality to the pre-modern world. It is hoped that this course will
provide the students with a greater understanding of the past and a vision for the future.
During this course we will be examining three major topics: origins of civilizations, the
classical period, and the postclassical period. Class time will consist of lectures, visuals such as
videos and slides, and discussions of readings of primary documents. Students should complete
the assigned readings prior to class time and are expected to actively participate in discussions.
The Tennessee Board of Regents and Middle Tennessee State University General Studies
Program have mandated the following learning outcomes for this part of your General Education
curriculum. Student will demonstrate the ability to:
o Analyze significant primary texts and works of art, ancient, pre-modern, and modern, as
forms of cultural expression.
o Explain the ways in which humanistic and/or artistic expression throughout the ages
expresses the culture and values of its time and place.
o Explore global/cultural diversity.
o Frame a comparative context through which they can critically assess the ideas, forces,
and values that have created the modern world.
o Recognize the ways in which both change and continuity have affected human history.
o Practice the critical and analytical methodologies of the Humanities and/or Fine Arts.
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Course Requirements:
1. 5% Class Attendance: Class attendance is required and roll will be taken each class.
(grade for attendance will be calculated as follows:0-1 absence: A; 2-3 absences: B; 4-5 absences
C; 6-7 absences: D; 8 & over: F. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late or leave early
will be counted as absent)
2. 5% Class Participation
3. 35% Three Tests
4. 30% 2 writing assignments
5. 25% Cumulative final examination
Grading scale
A
B+
B
BC+
C
90 and above
88-89
84-87
80-83
78-79
74-77
CD+
D
DF
70-73
68-69
64-67
60-63
59 and below
Rules for Classroom Behavior
Turn off/Silence all cell phones. Points will be deducted from assignments and the final grade if
you use your cell phone in class. Text messaging is forbidden, and after two warnings, points will be
deducted from tests and examinations. You may use a laptop computer or tablet to take notes only
with the approval of the instructor.
Make-up Policy
There will be NO make-ups and missed tests and examinations will count as Fs. Exceptions will
only be made in cases of emergency and illness documented with a note from a doctor. No
make-ups will be given after the test has been returned.
Statement on Cheating
Any form of cheating (including plagiarism) on any assignment or examination will result in a
grade of “F” for the course. “Plagiarize” is defined in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary as
“to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own,” “use (a created production)
without crediting the source,” “to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or
product derived from an existing source.” Outright plagiarism or any form of cheating,
intentional or unintentional, will result in a failing grade in the course and disciplinary action by
the university.
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Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions
related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as
soon as possible. Students may also contact the Disability and Access Center (615-898-2783) at
KUC 107 with questions about such services.
Writing Center
Students are encouraged to use the University Writing Center for writing assignments in this
course. The center is located in The Walker Library in Room 362. They can also be reached by
phone at 904-8237 or by e-mail at uwcenter@mtsu.edu.
Lottery Scholarship
To retain the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS
GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter. A grade of
C, D, F, FA, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility. If you drop this class, withdraw, or
if you stop attending this class you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship, and you will not be
able to regain eligibility at a later time.For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement
of Understanding form (http://www.mtsu.edu/financial-aid/forms/LOTFOD.pdf) or contact your MT One
Stop Enrollment Counselor (http://www.mtsu.edu/one-stop/counselor.php)
Books Required for the Course:
Bentley, Jerry, Herbert F. Ziegler and Heather Streets Salter. Traditions and Encounters: A
Brief Global History. Vol. 1. 3rd edition New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.
Andrea, Alfred J. and James H. Overfield. The Human Record: Sources of Global History.
8th edition. Vol.1. New York: Cengage Learning, 2015.
There may also be additional handouts in class
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Lecture and Reading Schedule:
Aug.
Sept.
25
Organizational meeting
27
The Neolithic Revolution
Readings:
 Bentley et.al. Ch.1: pp.6-8;
 Andrea/Overfield: Prologue: Primary Sources and How to Read
Them” (P1-P17)
 *Jared Diamond, “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human
Race,”in Applying Anthropology: An Introductory Reader, ed. By
Aaron Podolefsky and Peter J. Brown, 5th ed. (London: Mayfield
Publishing Co. 1999): 80-84. (available in D2L)
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Ancient Mesopotamia
 Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 1: pp.8-20
 Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield #1, 2
“The Epic of Gilgamesh” “The Judgments of Hammurabi”
3
Early Africa
 Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 2;
 Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 3,4
“Three Mortuary Texts” “Tale of the Eloquent Peasant”
8
Ancient India
 Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 1: pp. 20-24, Ch. 3: 45-53;
 Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 9, 14, Multiple Voices II “The
Transit of Images along Early Trade Routes”
“The Rig Veda” “The Upanishads”
10
Ancient China
 Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch 3: 56-64;
 Primary source: Andrea/Overfield # 7
“The Book of Documents”
15
Test 1
17
Classical China
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 6

22

Classical China
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 20-23
“Laozi, The Classic of the Way and Virtue” “Confucius, The
Analects” “Han Fei, The Writings of Master Han Fei” “The
Guiding and Stretching Chart and the Stretching Book”
4
24

29

.Oct.
1

6

8

Classical India
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 15, 17, 32
“The Bhagavad Gita” “The Buddha, Setting in Motion the Wheel
of the Law” “The Laws of Manu”
Writing Assignment 1 due
Classical Greece
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch.8: pp. 133-145
Classical Greece
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 25-27
“Testimonials at Epidauros” “Hippocrates, On the Sacred Disease”
“Euripides, Medea” “Plato, Apologia”
Classical Civilizations compared
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield, Multiple Voices III: Art and the
Human Form in Hellas and China
13
Fall Break
15
Rome
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 8: pp. 145-154

20

Nov.
Classical India
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 7
Rome
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield #35, 42,44
“Caesar Augustus, The Accomplishments of the Deified Augustus”
“The Gospel of St. Matthew” “The Creed of Nicaea”
22
Test 2
27
The Silk Road
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 9
29

The Silk Road
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield, Multiple Voices IV “Sea Routes and
Silk Roads”

The Rise and Spread of Islam
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 11
Writing Assignment II due
3
5
5

10

Empires in East Asia
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 12

Empires in East Asia
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield, Multiple Voices VII: Buddhism in
China: Acceptance, Rejection, and Accommodation
12
17
Test 3
19
The Byzantine Empire and Medieval Europe
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Chs. 10, 16
Primary source: Andrea/Overfield #64
“Dictatus Papae; Henry IV, Letter to Hildebrand; John of Paris, A
Treatise on Royal and Papal Power”


24

26
Dec.
Islam
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 45, 46, 48
“The Qur’an” “Abu Abdullah ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, The Authentic
[Traditions]” “Mahmud Kati, The Chronicle of the Seeker”
Medieval Europe
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield , Multiple Voices VIII: Byzantium
and the West in the Age of the Crusades: The Dividing of Christendom?
pp. 324-334
Thanksgiving
1


Nomadic Empires: The Mongol Empire
Secondary source: Bentley et.al. Ch. 14
Primary sources: Andrea/Overfield # 77,79
John of Plano: Carpini, History of the Mongols Whom We Call Tartars”
“Marco Polo, The Million: A Description of the World”
Final Examination: December 10 (Thursday): 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
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