This course explores the history of the major world civilizations to about the year 1500. Our study of world cultures will deal with many significant people, movements and ideas. We will use a variety of methods to increase our understanding in these areas -- lectures, discussions, writing, questions. This course is a Westminster College Liberal Education (L.E.) course carrying 4 credits.

To become familiar with the World's societies and cultures, as well as with developments in politics, religious thought, philosophies, economies, literature and ideas -- as a well-informed member of the crew of the S.S. Earth ought to be (historical passengers of the S.S. Earth are generally thrown overboard sooner or later!);

To understand the methods historians employ, and to use them in our class (and beyond);

To inquire into some of the greatest pieces of world literature and ideas with a critical frame of mind, and then to communicate what we have seen and learned -- on and off the World Wide Web;

To gain a sense that we all participate in the family of humanity, and that learning about the history of this family can teach us something useful about ourselves.

Grades are drawn from Mid-Term & Final examinations (30% each), a term paper (20%), and Class Discussions (20%). Regular attendance is necessary for the Discussion component of the grade.

		E-Mail
Why Study History?		On the Readings
Research Papers		More on History Papers
Permissions		Mid-Term   Review
Ceramic Survey		Final Review
Medieval Architecture	Roman Pompeii	European Monasticism

NAVIGATION HINTS:

The outlines below divide HIST 212 into ten sections. Each outline provides links useful to that section.

Clicking this image anywhere will bring you back here.

Plutarch. Makers of Rome. 0140441581

Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee Goong an. 0486233375

Worlds of History, Vol. 1. Kevin Reilly. 031244687X

Letters of Abelard & Heloise. 0140448993

Materials linked to the Schedule below are important and will be dealt with in class.

OFFICE HOURS, FOST 419:

 MTWTh 8:45-10  (801-832-2391)    -- mm email

HIST 212 meets on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10-11:50, in MALF 127.

Course Readings will be introduced in class. Two general 'guidelines': 1.) Online readings in the WC domain are important; 2.) Since we will probably depart from the syllabus schedule in about 20 minutes, it is important to be in class so you will know what to read for next class. Look AHEAD in the syllabus BELOW.

I.) Beginning of Civilization(s): Egypt and The Far East

Jan 8: Introduction to History 212 & Civilization -- Nile and Indus Civilizations; China

(Get the Books; Love the Books!) To Read for next class:

Reilly, (Worlds of History -- aka the 'reader') pp. 29-58 for discussion next class: Clues of what is really going on here?

Note that there is an assignment to prepare for next class.

Jan 13: Mesopotamia; Egypt; Early Israel;

To Read: Reilly, 201-216; Hebrew Chronology

Discuss the obvious and not-so-obvious questions presented

Please be aware that from here on, look AHEAD to prepare for each class -- this is important, crucial, necessary -- this is your only 'lifeline,' and questions will come.... so for example, in our next class we will discuss arete in Pericles Funeral Oration, and you cannot discuss this complex issue of excellence without preparation. Kill the television.

II.) First Empires & Major Interactions Chronologically

Jan 15: Early Greece; Athens' "Progressive" Democracy: To consider for next

Read Reilly, 87-107

To Disuss:  Western life in Pericles' Funeral Oration  in comparison to Eastern life in the book of Esther (Consider: Ethnic distinctions? Gender? Equality? Democracy? Society? Politics? Culture? Arts?)

To Discuss the how/why questions: The Failure of Classical Democracy: East & West; Reilly, 69-77.

III.) Classical Greece & India

Jan 22: How is India different from Greece?

To Read: Reilly, 66-86

To Discuss: Arjuna's dilemma, Reilly, 82 ff; First, What? Then, is this teaching a mechanism that tends toward Class Distinctions or Equality, true individualism or anti-individual?

Good time to begin reading the Judge Dee stories: take notes. (Intro)

IV.)  Ancient India & China

To Read: Reilly, 70-87, 187-200; the Reilly readings have parallels, connections and sometimes overlaps with the linked reading. Enjoy the illusion of repetition!

Jan 27: Buddhist India & China

To Discuss: The Isidasi Sutra: First, Untangle the What. Then, how does Gender emerge, e.g., is Isidasi male, female, both, neither, meta-gender, trans-gender?

To "bring to class" -- 1.) One Confucian Analect that moves you (with citation numbers as below in Confucian Way) 2.) Definition of Confucianism, 3.) One Analect that relates to your definition -- you can find Analects in an interesting selection here,  or find them in abundance here,  or make them your own here. Or in thousands of other places/ways. All in order to make our own selection.

Begin reading and thinking about Judge Dee

Jan 29:Chinese Civilization

Confucius' Way: The Analects -- consider Tierney's three characteristics of Western Civilization on the Western Civ home page:  Is there a useful dialogue comparing them with characteristics of Eastern Civilizations? This question, in various forms, will be with us for some time.

Feb 3: Worldview

To Read: Judge Dee

Worldview: definition, idea, in World History, currently

Feb 5: Introduction to Rome, Christianity and their relationship(s) -- or not -- to the East

To Read: Reilly, 128-168; Plutarch's Lives of Cato & Tiberius Gracchus

V.) Rome: Fusion & Fision

Feb 10: The Rise of Rome & Hannibal's Legacy; Crisis & Failure of the Republic (Vesuvius & Pompeii)

Discuss Cato & Tiberius

Feb 12: Beginnings & Ends: Republic, Empire, Christianity

Prepare the Christianity Question

Feb 17: Christianity & the Roman Empire; Pliny, Perpetua

Discuss Christianity & Pliny; Mid-Term Review

Feb 19: Mid-Term Exam

VI.) Fall in the West, Rise in the Middle East   

Reilly, 249-266

Mar 3: Fall of Rome & survival of Arthurian Britain

Mar 5: End & Beginning of Civilizations: Monasticism, Jarrow & Jerusalem

Mar 10: Mohammed, the Koran & the Ideals

Mar 12: Islam & the larger context

Discuss Islam & J.J. Saunders' article:  Analyze throughout
(Middle East Web Links)

VII.) East, Far & Beyond

  Mar 17: The Far East: Ruling values of China, Japan; View the Oldest Book: The Diamond Sutra at the BL; Americas, Africa south of the Sahara

VIII.) Feudal Europe

To Read: Reilly, 280-348; to Discuss: Comparative Status of Medieval Women

Mar 19: Manorialism and Feudalism

Mar 24: The Gregorian Reform & Pope Urban II -- Call to Crusade: Motivations? Goals?

Mar 26: Turks, Crusaders and Byzantines: Morality in History?

Discuss Reilly, p. 387-8, in terms of the crusade

Mar 31:  Modern Middle East Day: Your Questions, Observations, Discussions

Apr 2:  Intro to Abelard & Heloise

Apr 7: High Middle Ages (Letter concerning Eleanor of Aquitaine's Revolt)

IX.) Eurasia to 1500

Apr 9: Discussion of Abelard & Heloise

Apr 14: Developments in the East; Russia

X.) Europe to 1500

To Read: To Read:

Apr 16: Ends & Beginnings: Medieval to Renaissance

Dec 4: Nature & Historiography of the Italian Renaissance; Term Project Due

Dec 9: Figures (Pico) of The Italian Renaissance

Final Exam

          Westminster College seeks to provide equal access to the college's programs, services, and activities to people with disabilities as defined by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  If you have a disability for which you will need accommodations in this class, please let the instructor know as soon as possible.  You will also be required to provide documentation of your disability to the Services for Students with Disabilities program in the START Center (Carleson Hall, 832-2280).

          Please refer to the Academic Catalog or the Student Handbook for the College's statement on academic honesty.

Last updated March 23, 2009

  visits since 12/16/04.