HIST H109                                                                                          Prof. Michael Snodgrass

Cavanaugh 221                                                                                    Office: CA 503S    278-7761

Fall 2005                                                                                              Hours: T 3-5, Th 9-10

T/Th 11:00-12:15                                                                                 E-mail: misnodgr@iupui.edu

 

 

                     PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD SINCE 1800

 

Course description/objectives:

This introductory course on modern world history examines the major political, economic, social and technological developments that shaped our contemporary world over the past two centuries.  It offers an historical background to what is known today as globalization.  Among the key issues and trends that we study are the causes, nature and consequences of colonialism and imperialism;  the development of a global economic system; the rise and decline of communism and fascism in Europe and Asia; and the struggles for self-determination, democracy, and social equality that punctuated the history of the last two centuries.  Our geographic focus will be less on countries and more on global regions like Latin America, Sub-Sahara Africa, and the Middle East. 

 

Perspectives on the World introduces students to the common features and key distinctions between the histories and cultures of world regions.  Consistent with IUPUI’s Principles of Undergraduate Learning (see http://www.iupui.edu/~history/ugprinciples.html), this course is also designed to develop student skills of critical and comparative analysis, improve writing proficiency, and enhance one’s capacity to organize and express his or her thoughts.  Students will sharpen these skills through a variety of assignments: analyzing historical documents, writing essays, engaging in classroom discussions, and preparing for quizzes and examinations.

 

This syllabus, class announcements, discussion questions, lecture outlines, assignments, and grades will be posted to the Oncourse system.

 

Required readings: (at IUPUI Bookstore and Indy’s College Bookstore):

Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past (Vol. C, 2nd ed., 2002)

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, The River Between (l965)

Louis Fischer, Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World (l954)

S. Kinzer, All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror (2003)

 

Online documents: these historical documents are available online at the web addresses listed or as links through the course syllabus posted at Oncourse or the History Department website; study questions for each reading will be posted to Oncourse; students are advised to print or save all online documents to their computers immediately to avoid difficulties accessing them on the evening before reading assignments are due.

 

Course requirements and grading (based upon 1,000 total points):

Two exams = 400 points; two 4-5 page essays = 400 points; three quizzes = 75 points; one map assignment = 25 points; and, class participation = 100 points.

 

Exams involve multiple choice questions, essays, and identification terms. 

Essays will address specific issues related to the Ngugi, Fischer, and Kinzer books.  Students will select to submit essays on any 2 of the 3 books, on the dates indicated in the course schedule.  Separate guidelines will be provided in class for each assignment.

Four unannounced quizzes will be given during the semester - your three highest grades count toward final grade.  Quizzes may involve multiple choice questions, matching, and short essays and cover only the online and textbook readings assigned for that day.

Class participation grades are not a reward for attendance, although absenteeism obviously undermines one’s capacity to engage in discussions.  A grade of A will go to those students who eagerly participate and demonstrate consistent preparation; occasional participation and steady attendance will earn one a B; a consistent but otherwise silent presence in the classroom earns a C; and poor attendance results in a grade of D or lower.

 

Final grade scores: A (1,000-930),  A- (929-900), B+ (899-880), B (879-830), B- (829-800), C+ (799-780), C (779-730), C- (729-700), D (699-600), F (599 or less).

 

Remember...

*...to act with civility in the classroom.  That means you will not leave early without prior permission, eat, use cellular phones for any purpose, read newspapers or books, or engage in any other behavior that may distract your classmates and disrespect your teachers. 

 

* ...the attendance policy: one’s presence is noted but will not be rewarded.  It is expected of all students in all IUPUI classes.  Moreover, history tells us that persistent absenteeism results in lower grades.  That is especially the case for this class since students will take four unannounced quizzes during the semester AND since no makeup quizzes are given except in documented emergencies, in accordance with IUPUI policy. 

 

* ...that all late assignments will be penalized as follows: one grade (B to C) for assignments not submitted in class on due date, and two full grades (B to D) for assignments turned in more than one week late.  ASSIGNMENTS MORE THAN TWO WEEKS LATE ARE NOT ACCEPTED.  

* ...to save all papers on your hard drive and a diskette and to retain graded assignments. 

 

* ...to check the Oncourse grade book to ensure your grades are recorded correctly.

 

* ...that plagiarism and cheating will be punished in accordance with IUPUI’s Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct (see the IUPUI Campus Bulletin, 2004-2006, p.36).  For example, any student found to have submitted work taken from an Internet site will receive zero points for the assignment (and not just an F grade) and be subjected to full disciplinary procedures as administered by the School of Liberal Arts Dean of Student Affairs, or by officials in whichever school the student may be enrolled. 


                                           LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE

 

 

                                                   I. THE AGE OF REVOLUTION

 

Aug. 30            The French Revolution

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 802-36

 

Sep. 1              Revolution in the Americas

 

                        Map Assignment due today

 

Sep. 6              Nation Building and Ethnic Cleansing in the Americas

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 871-900

 

            Online documents:

            1) Black Hawk surrenders: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/12.htm

            2) Manifest Destiny defined: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/osulliva.htm

 

 

Sep. 8              The Industrial Revolution

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 841-68

 

Sep. 13            Socialism and Socialist Movements

 

            Online document:

Excerpts from Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto (read the introduction and parts

            I. Bourgeois and Proletarians and II. Proletarians and Communists), available at:

                        http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html

 

 

 

 

                                                        II. THE AGE OF EMPIRE

 

Sep. 15            Nationalism and the New Imperialism

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 933-43           

 

            Online documents:

            1) French Prime Minister Jules Ferry justifies a policy of imperialism:

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1884ferry.html

 

            2) English colonial governor justifies Britain’s colonization of Egypt:

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1908cromer.html

 

Sep. 20            East Asia Encounters the West

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 903-29

 

            Online documents:

1) China resists British encroachment (l793):     http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1793qianlong.html

 

2) China’s drug czar Commissioner Lin condemns British opium traders (l839):

            http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1839lin2.html

 

Sep. 22            The Scramble for Africa

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 944-51           

 

Sep. 27            Colonialism as a ‘Civilizing Mission’

                        Readings: Ngugi, The River Between

 

                        Essay #1 due in class today

 

Sep. 29            Building an American Empire

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 951-54

                       

            Online documents:

            1) Senator Beveridge advocates a US policy of imperialism:

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1898beveridge.html

 

2) Domestic opposition to US foreign policy from the Anti-imperialist League:

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1899antiimp.html

 

Oct. 4              Anti-imperialism and the legacies of colonialism

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 954-62

 

 

Oct. 6              Examination #1

 

 

Oct. 11            Imperial Rivalries and the First World War

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 971-1000

 

Oct. 13            The Russian Revolution

Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1010-19

 

Oct. 18            Nationalism and Fascism in Europe and East Asia

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1020-34

                       

 

Oct. 20            Pablo Picasso’s Guernica

 

            Online documents:

            Background on Picasso’s masterpiece: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernica_(painting)

                       

Oct. 25            The Holocaust

 

            Online documents:

1) Anti- Semitic propaganda from popular German magazine Der Sturmer (The Attacker): http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/sturm28.htm

 

            2) “The Toadstool” - anti-Semitic propaganda published for school children

                        http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/thumb.htm

 

Oct. 27            The Second World War and Its Aftermath

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1037-60

 

 

 

                 III. STRUGGLES FOR SELF-DETERMINATION AND DEMOCRACY

 

Nov. 1             Nationalism and Social Justice in Latin America

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1124-29

 

Nov. 3             Revolution and Communism in China

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1085-87, 1117-19

 

Nov. 8             Anti-colonialism and Independence in India

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1099-1106

                                         Louis Fischer, Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World

 

                        Essay #2 due in class today  

 

Nov. 10           Anti-colonialism and Independence in Africa

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1110-17, 1129-32

 

            Online documents:

            1) All-Africa People’s Conference denounces European colonialism (l958):

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1958-aapc-res1.html

 

            2) United Nations declaration on rights of self-determination (l960):

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1960-un-colonialism.html

 

            3) Kwame Nkrumah speaks on the future of independent Africa (l96l):

                        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1961nkrumah.html

Nov. 15           The Cold War: Origins and Consequences

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1060-85

 

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Nov. 17           The Cold War in Latin America

 

            Online documents:

            1) US foreign policy: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1961kennedy-afp1.html

 

            2) Fidel Castro’s response: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1962castro.html

 

 

Nov. 22           The Cold War in the Middle East

                        Readings: Kinzer, All the Shah’s Men

                       

                        Essay #3 due in class today

 

Nov. 29           Revolution in the Middle East

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1120-24

                       

Dec. 1              The End of the Cold War

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1087-96

 

Dec. 6              The 21st Century: The Age of Globalization or the Clash of Civilizations?

                        Readings: Traditions and Encounters, 1135-68

 

Dec. 8              Examination #2