Survey of World History TO 1660

Summer  2005

 

Instructor:  Dr. Keith Pacholl                                                              Email:  kpacholl@westga.edu 

Class:   History 1111 section 1                                                             Office Hours:  TTh     2:00pm – 3:30pm

            TTh 8:00am – 10:30am                                                                                   W        9:00am – 11:00am

Room:  TLC 1200                                                                                                        W        1:30pm – 3:30pm

Office:  TLC 3245                                                                                                       (and by appointment)

Phone: (678) 839-6044 – office                                                                                               

            (678) 839-6508 – history department

 

 

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Welcome to History 110A.  This course explores the major topics and issues from antiquity through the sixteenth century.  The goals & objectives of the class are as follows:

 

1.         To understand holistically the origins and historical development of world civilizations within a

            global context.

2.         To describe and analyze critically the reciprocal influence of Western and non-Western institutions,

            values, and ideas.

3.         To recognize the forces that contributed to the particular development of diverse societies and shaped

            our present world.

4.         To understand and describe critically major political, economic, intellectual, and cultural themes

            recurring throughout the history of the world.

 

By the end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of historical facts, themes, and ideas, as well as improve your ability to analyze and evaluate historical evidence. 

 

 

ASSIGNED READING                                                                                 

Bentley & Ziegler,  Traditions and Encounters, volume 1, 2nd edition (textbook)

Andrea & Overfield,  The Human Record, volume 1,  4th edition (discussion reader)

Rodney Stark,  The Rise of Christianity

Jonathan Spence,  The Death of Woman Wang

 

 

REQUIREMENTS

Midterm Exams:  There will be two midterm exams given throughout the course of the semester.  The exams will be written and will include a combination of fill-in-the-blank, matching, short-answer identifications, and essay questions.  A study guide will be provided in advance of each exam.  You will need a bluebook (large ones only) for the exams, which I will collect from you the first week of class.  If you don’t turn in a bluebook in advance, you cannot take the exam. There are no make-ups for these exams unless an extreme emergency has occurred, which must be documented (no documentation means no make-up). Failure to show up means no (0) points for that exam.  You must contact me immediately if such an extreme emergency has occurred.

 

Final Exam:  The final exam will be the exact same format as the midterms (fill-in-the-blanks, matching, short-answer identifications, essay) with one exception:  it will be comprehensive.  You must take the final exam on the day it is scheduled – there are no exceptions to this requirement.

 

Paper: One paper will be required of all students. You can choose to write on either The Rise of Christianity or The Death of Woman Wang. The due dates for the papers are June 30 (The Rise of Christianity) and July 21 (The Death of Woman Wang), by 8:00am.  No late papers – no paper, no grade.  Further instructions and guidelines concerning the papers will be handed out later in the class.

 

Discussion:  Class participation is part of your grade, so be sure to show up having read the assignments (you are REQUIRED to read all assigned readings). Discussions will occur either in groups or as a class.  Discussions will be primarily based upon The Human Record textbook.  Expect quizzes on the various reading assignments, including the two monographs (The Rise of Christianity and The Death of Woman Wang).  Each of you will also be called upon to lead one class discussion.  Signups for leading a discussion will take place during our first class session.  You will have partners for this project – you can either choose your own partners, or be assigned one.  Handouts will be provided that outline my expectations for discussion.  Your class participation grade includes:  preparing for, and participating in, all class discussions; leading one class discussion; quizzes on discussion material; student conduct (detrimental behavior will cost you points); and any other material assigned throughout the course of the semester that is not listed on this syllabus.

 

Attendance:  Students are responsible for attending all classes.  This is extremely important, particularly since we will be having presentations and discussions on a regular basis.  Role will be taken at the beginning of each class. You will be considered absent if you show up after role has been taken, so please be sure to arrive on time (habitual lateness will thus be penalized).  You will also be considered absent if you leave early without permission.  Two percentage points will be deducted from your overall final grade for each absence. I will give you 1 “free spin” (meaning 1 absence won’t count against you) before I start deducting points (meaning I will start deducting beginning the 2nd absence). For example, if your final grading percentage was 91%, and you were absent for a total of 3 classes, then your final grade would be adjusted to a 87%.  If you miss four or more classes, then you will receive an automatic “F” for the course. There are no exceptions to this rule.  This is summer school and it is imperative you are here for each class.

 

 

GRADING

Exam #1:         20%                                         Discussion:                   25%

Exam #2:         20%                                         Paper:                          15%

Final Exam:     20%

 

 

90% - 100%     A

80 - 89             B

70 - 79             C

60 - 69             D

0 - 59               F

 

Assessment Criteria for grades:

 

A = Exceptional

-precise and comprehensive understanding of the material

-thoroughly identifies, defines, and describes all key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course

-work contains no factual inaccuracies

-excellent writing, with little to no errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.

-very focused and organized

-correctly identifies all key themes of the readings

 

B = Commendable

-clear understanding of the material

-identifies, defines, and describes most key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course

-work contains few factual inaccuracies

-strong writing, with few errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.

-well focused and organized

-correctly identifies most key themes of the readings

 

 

 

C = Competent

-adequate understanding of the material

-identifies, defines, and describes some of the key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course

-work contains factual inaccuracies

-average writing, with some errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.

-somewhat focused and organized

-adequately identifies major key themes of the readings

 

 

D = Limited evidence of achievement

-poor understanding of the material

-identifies, defines, and describes few key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course

-work contains many factual inaccuracies

-below average writing, with many errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.

-poorly  focused and organized

-barely identifies major key themes of the readings

 

 

F = Minimal evidence of achievement

Work that fails to meet any of the standards set forth above, or which is exceptionally inadequate

 

 

 

STUDENT CONDUCT

Students are obligated to abide by the guidelines detailed in the university catalog.   Respect and courtesy are required of all students while in the classroom.  The following is also mandatory:

 

1. No arriving late or leaving early (unless you have checked in with me in advance).  Arriving late or leaving

    early will count as one absence.  Arriving late is defined as arriving after role has been taken.  Leaving early

    is defined as leaving class once the class has started.  If you habitually arrive late, you will be asked to leave.

2. No talking or passing notes, eating food in class (that I can hear), no reading non-class related materials, and no

    sleeping (go get a room at the Marriott for that).  In other words, your focus should be on this class, and if I find

    you to be disruptive in any way, I will give you the boot out of my class.

3. Cell phones, pagers, headphones, and all other electronic devices must be turned off during class.  I will      confiscate any I hear going off. Also, no tape recorders.  If you have any documentation needs, please let me

     know.

4. Once the exam has been given, there is no leaving the room.  Once you leave the room, you are finished

    taking the exam.  Also, no dictionaries, thesauruses, or electronic devices can be used for the exam.  Absolutely

    no talking during the exam – if you do, then your exam is finished at that exact point.

5. Any form of academic dishonesty (including cheating and plagiarism) will result in a failing course grade as

    well as possible additional action. Definitions of academic dishonesty and plagiarism are defined in university

    catalog, and it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with them.  I WILL CATCH YOU AND HAVE

     NO MERCY, SO PLEASE DON’T DO IT!

 

If you have any questions regarding the above, feel free to contact me at any time, or read the university catalogue.  Adherence to the “common sense” law should prevent any of the above problems. Failure to adhere to these guidelines could result in dismissal from class to additional disciplinary action.

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

 I reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time during the course of the term, particularly regarding the course schedule.  If such a modification is substantial, I will reissue a revised syllabus.

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

                                                                                                                                                                       

June             7      Introduction;  Early Societies, 2-48 (read pages in Traditions and Encounters text)

                                                -Reader:   How to Read a Document, xiii-xx  (Sources of World History)

                    9      Ancient Egypt, 61-82;  The Era of Empires, 39-41, 48-54, 165-184

                                                -reading 1:    A Scribal Exercise Book, 22-24

                                                                     The Book of Deuteronomy, 58-61

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                    14    Early India, 89-107, 213-235

                                                -reading 2:    The Bhagavad Gita, 70-73

                                                                     The Laws of Manu, 160-164

                                                                     Rock and Pillar Edicts, 156-160

                    16    Early China, 111-133, 187-209

                                                -reading 3:    The Records of the Grand Historian, 147-150

                                                                     The Analects, 99-102

                                                                     Lessons for Women, 151-155

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                    21    Ancient Greece, 239-249, 255-264

                                                -reading 4:    History of the Peloponnesian War, 113-119

                                                                     On the Sacred Disease, 110-113

                                                                     Crito, 123-127                            

                    23    [Exam #1] The Hellenistic era, 250-255, 264; Early Rome, 269-275

                                                                                                                                                                       

                    28    The Roman Empire, 275-289, 313-317                                            

                    30    [Stark paper due] The rise of Christianity, 289-292

                                                -reading 5:    The Gospel of Saint Matthew, 203-205

                                                                     The Epistle to the Romans, 205-208

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

July             5      Growth of “Christendom”, 317-319, 459-463

                                                -reading 6:    Ecclesiastical History, 209-213

                                                                     The Theodosian Code, 214-216

                    7      Medieval Europe, 441-459; The Byzantine Empire, 327-351

                                                -reading 7:    A Letter to Pope Leo III, 346-351

                                                                     Solitae, 358-362

 

                                                                                                                                                                       

                    12    [Exam #2] The Rise of Islam, 355-379; Early Africa, 82-85, 493-514; 

                           The Americas, 135-157, 547-569

                                                -reading 8:    The Qur’an, 232-236

                                                                     Gardens of the Righteous, 237-241

                                                                     The Treatise on Law, 244-246

                    14    Later India, 413-437; Later China, 383-409, 588-589; The Silk Roads and

                           Nomadic Empires, 295-313, 466-490, 573-585, 593-599

                                                -reading 9:   Memorial on Buddhism and Proclamation Ordering the Destruction

                                                                                                            of the Buddhist Monasteries, 297-301

                                                                     Journey to the Land of the Tartars, 426-430                                               

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                       

July             19    The Crusades, 540-543

                                                -reading 10:     The Alexiad, 366-368

                                                                     Annals, 369-372

                                                                     A Constantinopolitan History, 372-375

 

                    21    [Spence paper due] Death, war, and dissension, 517-540, 586-588

 

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                    26    The Renaissance & Reformation, 590-593    

                    28    Final Exam