World Civilizations to 1500
Professor: Robert W. Brown
Course Description and Overview
HST 1140 surveys the birth and diffusion of world civilizations from prehistory to about 1500, the beginning of European overseas expansion. Attention is given the major cultural, social, economic, and political trends within each civilization. The course begins with the birth of civilization in the ancient Near East and the outward diffusion and transformation of that civilization. It turns next to the rise of civilizations in India and China and their history before the sixth century AD. The course then treats the rise and fall in succession of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman civilizations, stressing the role of the Roman Empire in transmitting both classical civilization and the Christian religion to Europe. In the aftermath of the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century AD, consideration is given to how the Byzantine Empire preserved and transformed the Roman heritage and the parallel rise and spread of the Islamic religion and culture. Studied next is the history of Western Europe during the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages. Then attention is turned to first East Asia and second to Africa and the Americas. The course concludes with the beginnings of the Modern Age in Europe, and emphasis falls on contact between Europeans and non-European peoples, the Italian and Northern Renaissances, and the Reformation of the sixteenth century. Perennial themes include the origin and diffusion of civilizations; the emergence and character of the major religious and philosophical traditions; the frequent clash of systems of thought and how they expanded, spread, and were transformed; the rise and fall of empires; technological innovations and the diffusion of technologies; population growth and its consequences; the development and spread of commerce; and the origins and ever-greater importance of cities.
This course meets the criteria set out in UNC Pembroke's General Education Program. It provides the student with "knowledge of, appreciation for, and understanding of the contributions to society of major world civilizations and their histories."
Course Goals
***a chronological survey of the development of world civilizations
from prehistory to 1500, with
attention to the interaction between
these civilizations;
***an introduction to major historical periods and a synopsis of the
distinguishing political, social,
economic, and geographical
characteristics
of each;
***an introduction to the major achievements in art, architecture, culture, and intellectual life of each civilization;
***an introduction to history as a field of academic study;
***an appreciation of the relevance of the study of history for the
contemporary world, with an
emphasis on the historical foundation
of current world developments.
***an introduction to resources on the World Wide Web for the study
of history and world
civilizations.
Course Requirements
1. Required Readings.
Text: Craig, Albert M. and others. The
Heritage
of World Civilizations (Teaching and Learning Classroom
Edition/Brief
Third Edition, Vol. 1). Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2007.
Primary sources are printed in the text, on the
CD-ROM
which came with the text, and on the web site for the text:
http://www.prenhall.com/craig/.
A more direct link is: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_craig_herwldcivb_2.
The
primary
sources
are also available on the Hst 1140 web site. You will need the
Adobe
Acrobat Reader to access them.
2. Tests. There will be three tests and an final examination, each
consisting
of short answer, matching,
and multiple-choice questions. Tests will cover
both
the assigned readings and the material
discussed in class. At the beginning of each unit
of study, a list of the important names, terms,
events, and so on will be distributed; test items
will be drawn from this study sheet. Make-up tests
will be given only if the student notifies
the instructor in advance of an assigned test date;
make-up tests [of the original test] must be taken
before the next scheduled class meeting.
Make-up tests taken after the class meeting
following
the original test will consist of twenty
identification questions. Approximate test dates
may be found on the Course Outline.
3. Discussion Questions. Discussion questions based on the
text
and the primary sources will also be assigned
throughout the semester. Answers to these questions
will be written outside of class and will serve
as the basis for structured class discussions. These
answers, which will be collected and graded,
active participation in the class discussions, and
arrendance are worth 5% of the total course grade.
4. Essays. Two essays of approximately five pages each will be
written
outside of class. One essay
may be a critical analysis of a supplementary
reading,
a review of a book relevant to the content
of Hst 1140, or a response to essay questions made
up by the instructor. One essay must be a
review and analysis of World Wide Web Materials
on a topic relevant to Hst 1140. Handouts
with directions for the essays will be distributed
in class. Essay 1 is due on 15 February 2008;
Essay 2 is due on 26 March 2008.
5. Grading. Course Grades are based on the four tests, the essays, and the quiz scores.
4
Tests
70%
2
Essays
25%
Quizzes/
Discussion Q's/
Attendance 05%
Extra credit 05%
Total 105%
To receive a grade in HST 1140, ALL assignments
(except the final exam) must be submitted
by the last day of class (25 April 2008). Late
work will not be accepted
during exam week.
6. Grading Scale.
A= 93-100; A-=90-92;
B+=88-89;
B=83-87; B-=80-82; C+=78-79;
C=73-77; C-=70-72; D+=68-69;
D=63-67; D-=60-62; F=0-59
7. Required Class Attendance. Students are expected to attend every
class, beginning with the first
day. Absence from class, no matter what the cause,
does not excuse a student from any course
requirements. Make-up work is at the discretion
of the instructor. Excessive absences will adversely
effect a student's course grade and the instructor
may encourage a student with excessive absences
to withdraw from the class and/or seek assistance
from on-campus resources. Attendance will
be taken.
Cell phones should be turned off while in class.
8. Late Work. Work submitted late will be accepted without penalty
if
arrangements are made in
advance; otherwise, late work will be
accepted
but penalized five points per class period.
9. Extra Credit. A maximum of five (5) points (added to your final
course
average) may be earned
by writing a third essay. Your letter grade on this
essay will determine the number of extra credit points
earned. The essay must
be turned in on or before
23 April 2008. A=5 extra credit points;
A-/B+=4; B/B-=3; C+/C=2; C-=1. Late essays
will not be accepted.
10. Web Pages. Materials and handouts for this course are posted on
the Hst 1140 Web Page.
Also available is a supplemental Web Page with links
to resources for World Civilizations on the
World Wide Web. Web address: http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/hst114_w.htm.
Click on the course
title. There is a second set of links to
resources
on World Civilizations on the History
Department's Home Page.
11. Office and Office Hours. 212 Classroom North; phone 910.521.6229
or 910.521.6438;
E-mail: robert.brown@uncp.edu.
Office hours are posted on my door.
12. Honor Code: Students are expected to comply with the provisions
of the Academic Honor Code and the
Code of Conduct, both of which are printed in the
Student
Handbook and are available on the web site
of the Office
of Student Affairs.
13. Emergency Information Hot Line: For information about possible
university
closings or delays in opening, call
910.521.6888 or access the UNC
Pembroke web page.
14. Students with Documented Disabilities: Any student with a
documented
disability needing academic adjustments
should speak directly to Disability Support
Services and the instructor during the first two weeks of class week.
All discussions will remain confidential.
This syllabus is available in alternative formats upon request.
For
assistance,
please contact Mary Helen Walker, Disability Support
Services, D. F. Lowry Building (910.521.6695)
or visit the Office
of Disability Support Services web site.