History 114 – History of Western Civilization II
Spring 2002 - Wed 5:45 - 8:25 CA 221
Dr. Barbara Skinner
Course objectives:
The course is designed to provide a basic introduction to the history of the Western world (focusing on Europe) from approximately 1650 through today. 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 major events that have shaped the history of the modern world and the impact of these events.
The lectures and exams will explore the facts, events, concepts, and trends that have shaped the history of the modern world, allowing you to better understand your own society and the issues confronted today. The writing assignments and discussion of primary sources will help you to develop skills in critical and analytical thinking and expression. These broader goals of developing your overall academic skills reflect the university’s goals of undergraduate education, as described in the “Principles of Undergraduate Learning.”
Grading scheme:
20% Attendance and participation
20% Exam 1
20% Exam 2
20% Exam 3
20% Written assignments (two 4-5 page papers)
Requirements of the course:
1) Attendance and participation: Attending class is a critical part of the course. I will take attendance every class, and you are responsible for all material covered in class. Meeting only once a week makes it doubly important to attend all class meetings. The amount of material covered each week makes it very difficult to follow the course and to get a good grade 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, with a penalty of 10% off your participation grade for every unexcused absence.
You must complete the readings assigned for each class session and to come to class ready to discuss and comment on the assigned readings for that day. Despite the large class size for discussion, over the course of the semester, everyone will be given ample opportunity to participate. **If it becomes clear that the class is not prepared to discuss the readings, I reserve the right to give pop quizzes that will factor into your participation grade.
2) Careful reading of all assigned texts: You are responsible for all of the material assigned from
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the textbook, the assigned books and the supplemental primary sources (either distributed in class or accessible on a web sites). Web site URLs will be posted on Oncourse. 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 discussion (there will be some form of discussion on the assigned texts every week). During my lectures, I will refer to the artwork and sources published in the primary text book (Noble, Strauss, et al.), so please bring the textbook to each class. It is also imperative that you either print out or take careful notes on all sources from web sites and have those with you for class discussion.
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. I will provide study questions well in advance of each exam.
Required texts:
Noble, Strauss, et al, Western Civilization: The Continuing Experiment, Vol. 2, Brief edition. (Referred to in schedule as “Text”)
Georges LeFebvre, The Coming of the French Revolution
Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front
John Hersey, Hiroshima
***Note: all assigned primary sources, web-based or handouts, are required reading as well, and should be treated with as much diligence and respect as the textbook.
Academic Integrity:
All students should hand in their own work. From IUPUI’s Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, the univerisity may discipline a student for misconduct, which includes cheating, plagiarizing facilitating academic dishonesty, and interfering with the work of others. If you are caught plagiarizing or cheating in my course, you will receive an automatic F.
Prof. Skinner’s contact info:
$ Office hrs.: M, 5:10-6:00pm, W, 4:00-5:15 CA 313-P
$ Telephone: cell 812-391-3393 (try first); home: 812-339-8137
$ e-mail skinnerb@kiva.net – this is the best way to communicate with me if it is not an emergency
$ Mailbox: History Department, CA 504M (telephone 274-3811)
Class schedule:
9 Jan Introduction - Europe to 1650
16 Jan Absolutism and the Rise of the Great Powers
Text - Chapter 14; Atlas - study map, pp. 49-50
Handout of primary sources
**Familiarize yourself with the website for our supplemental primary sources: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html
(From here on, supplemental primary sources will be added via Oncourse)
23 Jan New World View: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
Text: Chapters 15-16
30 Jan French Revolution
Text: Chapter 17 to p. 452, Georges LeFebvre (entire)
6 Feb Napoleon and Revolutionary Europe - paper 1 due
Text: Ch. 17, 452-end and Chapter 18
13 Feb Exam 1
Lecture - Industrial Revolution, Text, Ch. 19
20 Feb Nationalism and Unification
Text: Ch. 20
27 Feb Age of Optimism and Imperialism
Text: Ch. 21, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
6 Mar A New Century Dawns
Text: Ch. 22
13 Mar spring break - no class
20 Mar World War I
Text: Ch. 23, except section on Russia; Remarque (entire)
27 Mar Exam 2
Lecture: Russian Revolution, Text Ch. 23, 609-612
3 Apr Interwar Period/Fascism
Text: Ch. 24
10 Apr World War II
Text: Ch. 25 through p. 674; Hersey, Hiroshima (entire)
17 Apr Cold War - paper 2 due
Text: Ch. 25, pp. 674 to end and Ch. 26
24 Apr End of Cold War and the post-Cold War world
Text: Ch. 27; Huntington’s article “Clash of Civilizations” (handout)
1 May Exam 3
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