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.
GOALS OF THE COURSE:
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.
NECESSITIES:
Grades are drawn from Mid-Term & Final examinations (30% each), a Web project (20%), and Class Discussions (20%). Regular attendance is necessary for the Discussion component of the grade.
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| On the Readings | ||
| More on History Papers | ||
| Mid-Term | ||
| Final Review | ||
| Roman Pompeii |
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.
TEXTBOOKS:
The Heritage of World Civilizations, Vol. 1. Kagan et al.
Plutarch. Makers of Rome.
Worlds of History, Vol. 1. Kevin Reilly.
Beroul. Romance of Tristan.
OFFICE HOURS, FOST 419:
T, 1:15-2:15; W, Noon-1;
F, 11-2.
Phone: (832-)2391.
HIST 212 meets on Mondays & Wednesdays, 10-11:50, in CONV B2.
The Course Readings will be introduced in class, and 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. As an experiment, I will try to keep an online calendar current with 'next class' info.
I.) Beginning of Civilization(s): Egypt and The Far East
Jan 5: Introduction to History 212 & Nile and Indus Civilizations;
China
To Read for next class:
Reilly, (Worlds of History -- the 'reader') pp. 32-50 for discussion next class
Jan 10: Mesopotamia
Discuss Gilgamesh, Cities/Civilization, Stone Age & later periods
II.) First Empires & Major Interactions Chronologically
Jan 12: Minoan & Mycenaean Civilizations; Early
Israel
Jan 18: Early Greek Civilization: Pan-Introduction
III.) Classical Greece
Jan 19: Sparta's "Arrested" Democracy
Jan 24: Athens' "Progressive" Democracy
Jan 26: Greece at War; Hellenism
Jan 31: Early India
Feb 2: Chinese Civilization
V.) Rome: Fusion & Fision
(Reilly, 128-133, 161-168; Kagan, 138-173; Plutarch's Lives of Cato
& Tiberius Gracchus)
Feb 7: The Rise of Rome & Cato
Feb 9: Crisis of the Republic
Feb 14: Tiberius: Beginning of the End of
the Republic (Vesuvius & Pompeii)
Feb 16: Christianity & the Roman Empire
Feb 23: Mid-Term Exam
VI.) Fall in the West, Rise in the Middle East (Reilly, 249-266; Kagan, 296-324)
Mar 7: Fall of Rome & survival of Arthurian
Britain
Mar 9: End & Beginning of Civilizations: Jarrow
& Jerusalem
Mar 14: Mohammed, the
Koran & the Ideals
VII.) Far East & Beyond to 1200 (McNeill, 250-271; Reilly, 275-303)
Mar 16: The Far East
Mar 21: The Americas; Africa south of the Sahara
VIII.) Feudal Europe (McNeill, 272-303, 331-40 & 244-7; Reilly, 234-244, 304-310 & ch. 10; Beroul)
Mar 23: Manorialism and Feudalism
Mar 28: The Gregorian Reform
Mar 27: Pope Urban I -- Call to Crusade: Motivations? Goals?
Mar. 30: Turks, Crusaders and Byzantines: Morality in History? Discuss
Reilly, p. 387, in terms of the crusade
Apr. 4: Intro to Beroul
Apr. 6: High Middle Ages
IX.) Eurasia to 1500 (McNeill, 304-330; Reilley, 388-414)
Apr 11: Discussion of Beroul
Apr 13: Developments in the East
X.) Europe to 1500 (McNeill, 340-360)
Apr 18: Ends & Beginnings: Medieval to Renaissance
Apr 20: Figures of The Italian Renaissance; Reflections; Term Project
Due
Apr Final Examination
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 October 28, 2005
visits since 12/16/04.