Western Civilization I
History H113, C323 (3 cr.
hrs.) Spring 2002
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: TR.
11:00 a.m.- noon, and by appointment
Classes: BS
2005, TR. 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Course description
The course
provides a survey of (what is commonly known as) Western civilization from
Antiquity to approximately 1550. 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.
Goals
The course has
four goals, which accord with and promote the IUPUI Principles of Undergraduate
Learning (see http://www.iupui.edu//~history/principlesundergradlearning.htm):
(1) to provide basic knowledge of the
course of European history (including major events and personalities) until the
mid-sixteenth century; this goal furthers students’ intellectual depth and
breadth, as well as their understanding of society and culture;
(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); this goal furthers students’
intellectual depth, their ability to integrate knowledge, and their
consideration of values and ethics;
(3) to give elementary training in the
historian’s craft through the critical reading and interpretation of primary
sources; this goal furthers students’ critical thinking, as well as the integration
and application of knowledge;
(4) to develop students’ ability to present
cogent oral and written presentations of their historical analyses, and to
discuss these effectively with the instructor and classmates; this goal
furthers the core communication skills expected of all IUPUI graduates.
Required readings
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 Iliad, trans. Robert Fagles, Penguin USA
1998.
The books listed are
stocked at the IUPUI Bookstore.
Requirements
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 promptly inform me about
the problem and provide documentation. Classes will begin at 9:30 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: I will evaluate both the frequency and quality of your
contributions. In addition, I may
use response sheets to help you prepare for the in-class discussions; these
will be marked on a pass/fail basis and count towards your participation 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 2/5
Midterm
exam 2/28
Second
paper due 4/9
Final
exam 4/30
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.
Grading policy
first
paper 15%
midterm
exam 20%
second
paper 20%
final
exam 25%
three
quizzes 10%
attendance/participation 10%
All grades will
be calculated using a 100-point system; cut-off points are:
97 - 100 = A+
93 - 96 = A
90 - 92 = A-
87 - 89 = B+
83 - 86 = B
80 - 82 = B-
77 - 79 = C+
73 - 76 = C
70 - 72 = C-
66 - 69 = D+
63 - 66 = D
60 - 62 = D-
0 - 59 = F
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 before each class.
Please be aware that students are
ultimately responsible for activity on their computer accounts.
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 C323 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.
Class Schedule
(Please note:
the following information is tentative and subject to change.)
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, Iliad, book 1, 77-98; for background, see Introduction to Homer, 3-22.
1/15 Early
Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Egypt (lecture)
Reading:
Cannistraro part I chapter 2 (= pp. 13-22; henceforth I.2 etc.) and I.3
1/17 Ancient Religions;
The Hebrews (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro I.4 and I.5
1/22 Homeric Greece (lecture and discussion)
Reading:
Cannistraro II.1 (= pp. 75-86); Homer, Iliad, book 6, pp. 195-213; for
background, see Introduction to Homer, 23-38
1/24 Homer’s Gods, Heroes
and Mortals (discussion)
Reading: Homer, Iliad, book 18, pp. 467-71
(= verses 1-150) + book 22, pp. 541-58.
For background, see Introduction to Homer,
38-64.
1/29 The Rise of the City-State: Politics and
Society (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro II.2, II.5
1/31 Athens and Greece
(discussion)
Reading: Cannistraro II.3; Wiesner, ch. 2
2/5 FIRST PAPER DUE
Greek
Culture from the Classical to Hellenistic Era (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro II.4 and II.6
2/7 The Roman Republic
(lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro II.7 and II.8
2/12 From Republic to
Empire (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro II.9 and II.10
2/14 Augustus and the Early Empire (discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 3
2/19 The Roman Empire:
From Heydey to Fall (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro II.11 and II.12
2/21 The Rise of
Christianity (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro II.13
2/26 Suicide in the
Ancient World (discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 4
2/28 MIDTERM EXAM
3/5 Germanic Kingdoms;
the Byzantine Empire (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro III.1 and III.3
3/7 Slavery in Roman and Germanic Societies
(discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 5
3/12 and 3/14 No class: spring break.
3/19 Early Medieval
Christianity; the Rise of Islam (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro III.2 and III.4
3/21 Charlemagne and the
Rise of Feudal Society (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro III.5 and III.6
3/26 The Feudal State
(discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 6; Cannistraro III.7
3/28 Medieval Society and
Culture (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro III.9 and III.11
4/2 Piety, Heresy, and
the Church (discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 9; Cannistraro III.8
4/4 Late Medieval Crises
(lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro III.12 and III.13
4/9 SECOND PAPER DUE
The Italian Renaissance (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro pp. IV.2 and IV.3
4/11 Renaissance Men and
Women (discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 10
4/16 The Age of
Reformations (lecture)
Reading: Cannistraro IV.7 and V.1
4/18 The Spreading of the
Reformation (discussion)
Reading: Wiesner, ch. 12
4/23 Europe’s New Worlds
Reading: Cannistraro IV.6; Wiesner, ch. 11
4/25 Conclusions and exam
review
4/30 (Tuesday) FINAL EXAM, in-class, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.