Western Civilization I
History H113, C378 Spring 2001

Instructor: Dr. Wietse de Boer
Office: CA-503D
Phone/voice-mail: (317) 274-5499
E-mail: Oncourse mail (http://oncourse.iu.edu; see below)
Office hours: MW. 12:15-1:15 p.m., and by appointment
Classes: CA-219, MW. 11:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

Course description

The course provides a survey of (what is commonly known as) Western civilization from Antiquity to approximately 1600. It will focus in particular on (a) the development of the key institutions of political and social life, and (b) the ideas, values and attitudes that supported, and evolved with, these institutions.

The course will emphasize the complexity of the history of the West by focusing on problems of continuity and discontinuity within the western tradition, and on the frequent interaction with (so-called) non-western cultures.

The course has three goals:

(1) to provide basic knowledge of the course of European history (including major events and personalities) until the end of the sixteenth century;

(2) to enhance the students' historical perspective on, and understanding of, important political, social, and cultural themes in the societies studied (and thus develop skills which are applicable, in principle, in the study of any given society); and

(3) to give elementary training in the historian's craft through the critical reading and interpretation of primary sources.

Philip V. Cannistraro, The Western Perspective, vol. I, Harcourt-Brace, 1999
Merry E. Wiesner, Julius R. Ruff, William B. Wheeler, Discovering the Western Past, Fourth Edition, Vol. I: To 1789.
Homer, The Odyssey, trans. Robert Fagles, Penguin USA 1996

The books listed are stocked at the IUPUI Bookstore.

1. In accordance with school expectations, attendance at all class meetings is a regular part of the course. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance rosters. More than three absences will be penalized and seriously affect your final grade. I may depart from this policy under exceptional circumstances (such as prolonged illness or personal catastrophe); in that case, it is essential that you promply inform me of the problem and provide documentation. Classes will begin at 11:00 a.m. sharp; to avoid disruption be sure to be on time.

2. Classes will feature lectures, discussions, or a combination of these. It is expected that you read the discussion materials (Homer/Wiesner sourcebook) in advance; bring these materials to class on scheduled dates. Informed participation will be part of your grade.

3. This course covers thousands of years of human history, and discusses difficult themes that will be unfamiliar to many of you. Therefore, you are strongly advised to keep up with your textbook readings. It will make it easier both to participate in the classes and to prepare for the exams.

4. Assignments. Students must write two short papers, take two examinations, and do a minimum of three pop-quizzes. The paper and exam schedule is as follows (quizzes are not previously announced):

First paper due 2/7
Midterm exam 2/28
Second paper due 4/11
Final exam 5/2

Make-up essays/exams will be scheduled only with a doctor's excuse (there is no make-up option for quizzes).

The papers will be on assigned sourcebook readings; they will be 4 pages long (letter size, typed, double-spaced). Further details will be given in class.

The exams will consist of identifications and essay questions. The identifications (of terms and names) will be taken from the reading and lecture materials. The essay questions will require you to develop a short historical argument on the basis of reading, lecture, and discussion materials. To facilitate your preparation of the exams, study-guides will give you a list of possible identifications and essay questions. These study-guides will be provided at least a week before each exam.

In the course of the semester, there will be five quizzes with elementary questions about the sourcebook readings. You need to do a minimum of three of these quizzes. If you take more, the three highest grades will count towards your final grade.

Plagiarism, cheating on exams, and other forms of intellectual dishonesty will not be tolerated. They will be dealt with in accordance with general university policy. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, ask, or consult the Indiana University Bulletin, School of Liberal Arts, Indianapolis Campus, 2000-2002, p. 36.

first paper 15%
midterm exam 20%
second paper 20%
final exam 25% three quizzes 10%
discussion (attendance/participation) 10%

Internet use: Oncourse

In this course we will be using the IU ONCOURSE system to make available course materials and to keep in touch. More information on how we will use the system will be provided in class and in announcements posted on the course site.

Important: at the very least, you are expected to check course announcements on a regular basis, at least once a week.

Access to ONCOURSE can be obtained as follows. Using Internet software like Netscape or Internet Explorer,

1. go to http://oncourse.iu.edu/

2. select IUPUI

3. Enter your IUPUI username and password

4. Click IN HIST H113 C378 HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZ 1

5. Course Announcements

6. Click Click to Continue

7. From here you can use ONCOURSE features such as Syllabus, Schedule, and In Touch

For essential help refer to Getting Help With Oncourse. You will find this feature after performing step #2, above. It includes a tour, questions & answers, and help options. Courses in the use of ONCOURSE are offered regularly in the school. I will be available to answer basic questions.

Schedule

1/8	Introduction: goals, themes, and organization of the course. The study of history; primary and secondary sources
1/10	Historical Documents. Oral and written culture (discussion)
	Reading: Homer, Odyssey, book 8, pp. 191-210; for background, see Introduction to Homer, 3-24.
1/15	No class: Martin Luther King Day
1/17	Early Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Egypt (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro part I chapter 2 (pp. 13-22; henceforth I.2 etc.) and I.3
1/22	Ancient Religions; The Hebrews (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro I.4 and I.5
1/24	Homeric Greece; Odysseus in the Underworld (lecture and discussion)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.1 ( pp. 75-86); Homer, Odyssey, book 11, pp. 249-70
1/29	Home, Family and Gender in Early Greece (discussion)
	Reading: Homer, Odyssey, books 18 (pp. 375-89) and 23 (pp. 455-67)
1/31	The Rise of the City-State: Politics and Society (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.2, II.5
2/5	Athens and Greece (discussion)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.3; Wiesner, ch. 2
2/7	FIRST PAPER DUE
	Greek Culture from the Classical to Hellenistic Era (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.4 and II.6
2/12	The Roman Republic (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.7 and II.8
2/14	From Republic to Empire (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.9 and II.10
2/19	Augustus and the Early Empire (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 3
2/21	The Roman Empire: From Heydey to Fall (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.11 and II.12
2/26	The Rise of Christianity (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro II.13
2/28	MIDTERM EXAM
3/5	Suicide in the Ancient World (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 4
3/7	Germanic Kingdoms; the Byzantine Empire (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro III.1 and III.3
3/12 and 3/14	No class: spring break.
3/19	Slavery in Roman and Germanic Societies (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 5
3/21	Early Medieval Christianity; the Rise of Islam (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro III.2 and III.4
3/26	Charlemagne and the Rise of Feudal Society (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro III.5 and III.6
3/28	The Feudal State (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 6; Cannistraro III.7
4/2	Medieval Society and Culture (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro III.9 and III.11
4/4	Piety, Heresy, and the Church (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 9; Cannistraro III.8
4/9	Late Medieval Crises (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro III.12 and III.13
4/11	PAPER #2 DUE
	The Italian Renaissance (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro pp. IV.2 and IV.3
4/16	Renaissance Men and Women (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 10
4/18	The Age of Reformations (lecture)
	Reading: Cannistraro IV.7 and V.1
4/23	The Spreading of the Reformation (discussion)
	Reading: Wiesner, ch. 12
4/25	Europe's New Worlds
	Reading: Cannistraro IV.6; Wiesner, ch. 11
4/30	Conclusions and exam review.
5/2	(Wednesday) FINAL EXAM, in-class, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.