History 113 B History of Western Civilization
I, Section C670
TR 9:30 - 10:45, CA 219
| Instructor: Dr. Barbara Skinner | e-mail: skinnerb@kiva.net |
| Office hours B TR 10:45-11:45, CA 313 | home telephone: 812-339-8137 |
Course objectives:
The course is designed to provide a basic introduction to the history of the Western world from antiquity to approximately 1650. The primary goal of the course is to convey the basic flow of history and the important political, social, economic, and cultural trends during this period. You are expected to attain a solid comprehension of the following:
The secondary goal of the course is to learn more about the craft of history, particularly how the historian gains information and analyzes primary sources. For this purpose, you are expected to participate in the planned discussions of the assigned selection of sources, as well as complete three short papers that will be based on source analysis.
Grading scheme:
20% Exam 1
20% Exam 2
20% Exam 3
20% Written assignments (5% map projects and paper 1, 5% paper 2, 10% paper 3)
20% Attendance and discussion
Requirements of the course:
1) Attendance: Attending class for lectures and discussion is a critical part of the course. The amount of material covered makes it very difficult to follow the course without diligent attendance. Excused absences (sickness with a doctor=s note, family emergency, childcare emergencies, etc.) are understandable, and will not detract from your grade. Unexcused absences will reflect on your final grade. More than 4 unexcused absences will begin to lower your attendance grade, and the more such absences, the more detrimental to your grade. **More than 14 unexcused absences will merit a failing grade in the course regardless of test scores.
2) Careful reading of all assigned texts: The lectures are intended to supplement and reinforce the material in the textbook, not to replace it. You are responsible for all of the material assigned from the textbook. The assigned texts should be read in preparation for the day they are assigned. You must make a careful reading of the assigned source texts to prepare for the scheduled discussions. During my lectures, I will refer to the artwork and sources published in the primary text book (Spielvogel), so please bring the text to each class.
3) Participation in the scheduled discussions: Despite the large class size for discussion, over the course of the semester, everyone will be given ample opportunity to participate. You must be prepared to discuss the readings assigned.
3) Completion of all written assignments and map projects: Assignments and papers are due at the beginning of the class period indicated. Late papers will incur penalties.
4) Completion of all three exams. These are three separate, non-cumulative exams for each of the three areas covered in the course: the Ancient World; the Medieval Period, and the Early Modern Period.
Required texts:
Sp. = Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization, Vol. I. Fourth edition. New York: West Publishing Co., 2000.
WRW = Wiesner, Merry E., Julius R. Ruff, and William Bruce Wheeler. Discovering the Western Past: A Look At the Evidence, Vol. I. Fourth Edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2000.
Class schedule:
Date and Topic |
Readings |
PART I: THE ANCIENT WORLD Aug. 24 -- Introduction: ACivilization@ and AWestern Civilization@ |
|
Aug. 29 B Lecture: Mesopotamia and Egypt: Cradles of Ancient Civilization |
Sp. Ch. 1 - read closely either on Egypt or Mesop. |
Aug. 31 B Lecture: The Hebrews and Ethical Monotheism |
Sp. Ch. 2, read closely 32-40, skim 42-53 |
| *Discussion: Water Management & the Development of Society | *WRW Ch. 1 |
| *1st map project due | |
Sep. 5 B Lecture: The Rise of the Greeks B Social/Political Development |
Sp. Ch. 3 thru p. 77 |
Sep. 7 -- Lecture: Elements of Greek Culture |
Sp. Ch. 3, 78 - 89 |
*Discussion: Classical Athens; 1st paper assignment distributed |
*WRW Ch. 2 |
Sep. 12 B Lecture: Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World *2-page (400-500 words) paper due |
Sp. Ch. 4 |
Sep. 14 -- Lecture: The Roman Republic B Political and Social Values |
Sp. Ch. 5 to p. 135 |
Sep. 19 B Lecture: From Republic to Empire, *2nd map project due |
Sp. Ch. 5-6, 135-154 |
Sep. 21 B Lecture: Pax Romana B Life in the Empire *Discussion: Augustus Caesar |
Sp. Ch. 6, 154-170 *WRW Ch. 3 |
Sep. 26 B EXAM 1 |
|
PART II: THE MEDIEVAL WORLD |
|
Sep. 28 B Lecture: Christianity; Germanic Invasions, and Distinctions between the Western and Eastern Empire |
Sp. Ch. 6-7, 170-203 |
Oct. 3 B Lecture: Medieval Politics, Charlemagne, and the Second Wave of ABarbarian@ Invasions; *Discussion: Slave Law in Roman and Germanic Society |
Sp. Ch. 8 to 222; 224-5. *WRW, Ch. 5 |
Oct 5 B Lecture: The Western Christian World B the Pope, Monasteries, Missions, and Church-State Relations; the Rise of Islam (*readings for Paper 2 distributed) |
Sp. Ch. 7, 179-85, 193-7; 203-7; Ch. 8, 233-4; Ch. 9, 245-252 |
Oct. 10B Lecture: Feudalism, Manorialism, and Medieval Society |
Sp. Ch. 8, 222-4, 226-7; Ch. 9 to 245. |
Oct. 12B Lecture: Medieval Monarchies B England, France, and Holy Roman Empire/ *Discussion: The Medieval State |
Sp. Ch. 10 282-291; *WRW Ch. 8 |
Oct. 17 B Lecture: Trade, Cities, and Medieval Industry *3-page (600-750 words) paper due |
Sp. Ch. 10, 266 - 273; WRW, 176-80, 185-88 (Documents 5-6) |
Oct. 19 B Lecture: The Crusades: Social, Religious and Political Implications |
Sp. Ch. 9, 253-263. |
Oct. 24 B Lecture: Late Medieval Cultural and Intellectual Revival *Discussion: The Medieval University |
Sp. Ch. 10, 354-73 *WRW Ch. 7 |
Oct. 26 B Lecture: 14th Century Upheaval BBlack Death, War, Church Decline |
Sp. Ch. 11 (entire) |
Oct. 31 -- EXAM 2 |
|
PART III: THE RISE OF THE MODERN AGE |
|
Nov. 2 B Lecture: Italian Renaissance |
Sp. Ch. 12 to 352 |
Nov. 7 B Lecture: Renaissance Politics and Religion *Discussion: The Renaissance Man and Woman |
Sp., Ch. 12, 353-360 *WRW Ch. 10 |
Nov. 9 B Renaissance Culture; last paper assignment distributed |
No Readings |
Nov. 14 -- Lecture: Understanding the ReformationBOrigins, Goals, Variations of Reform |
Sp. Ch. 13 to 384 |
Nov. 16 B Reformation -- Social/Intellectual Ramifications *Discussion B The Spread of the Reformation |
Sp. Ch. 13, 384-86; *WRW Ch. 12 |
Nov. 21 B Lecture: Counter-Reformation, Catholic Reform, and Baroque Culture |
Sp. Ch. 13, 386-90; Ch. 14, 418-20. |
Nov. 23 B THANKSGIVING BREAK - |
|
Nov. 28 B Lecture: Wars of Religion & Politics of Early Modern Europe |
Sp. Ch. 14, 401-418 |
Nov. 30 B Europe=s Eastern Borderlands B Turks, Poles and Russians *4-5-page (1000-1250 words) paper due |
No readings; paper due |
Dec. 5 B Discovery of the New World *Discussion: The Mental World of Christopher Columbus and article by Alfred W. Crosby, AIlls@ |
Sp. Ch. 14, 393-401 *WRW, Ch. 11 *Crosby article |
Dec. 7 B Scientific Revolution |
Sp. Ch. 16 |
FINAL EXAM B Tues. Dec. 12, 10:30 - 12:00
Additional Materials
Third Writing Assignment