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Course Title: History 4

 

California State University, Sacramento 

 Dr. S. Joan Moon

 

 

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO

Spring 1999

Hours: TR: 10-10:30; W: 5:15-6:00and by appointment G. E. C1
joanmoon@csus.edu

 

SURVEY OF EARLY WESTERN CIVILIZATION

 

A. Course Description and Objectives

This is an introductory course in the history of Western Civilization from the pre-historic period through the Middle Ages. The objectives of the course are 1) to acquaint students with the major ancient societies--their similarities and differences as well as their continuities and changes; 2) to encourage critical analysis; and 3) to introduce students to the methods of history--how historians analyze primary documents and develop interpretations. 3 units

B. Required Books

  • Bradley, K. R., SLAVES AND MASTERS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
  • Duby, G., WILLIAM MARSHAL, FLOWER OF CHIVALRY
  • McKay, J., Hill, B., and Buckler, J., eds., A HISTORY OF WESTERN SOCIETY, Vol. A: From Antiquity through the Late Middle Age, 6th ed.
  • Perry, M., Peden, J., and von Laue, T., eds., SOURCES OF THE WESTERN TRADITION, Vol. I: From Ancient Times to the Enlightenment, 4th ed.
  • Moon, J. "History 4: A Survival Guide"

C. Course Requirements and Grading
Two 75 minute exams, l00 pts each 200 pts

One 30 minute quiz 50 pts

Final exam 100 pts

Discussions, 25 pts each 50 pts

Total 400 pts

Perry Assignments

Optional projects  

The final grade will be calculated as follows: Divide total points by 4.0 (plus any additional points from the Perry assignments and optional projects and minus and deductions):

A=92-100; A-=90-91; B+=88-89; B=82-87; B-=80-81; C+=78-79; C=72-77; C-=70-71; D+=68-69; D=62-68; D-=60-61; F=59 and below.

D. Explanations

  • Attendance: It is important that you attend class to understand the lectures and the discussions on the primary sources; therefore, attendance is required. You may miss three sessions without penalty. Each unexcused absence after that will result in a ten-point deduction from your total points.
  • Reading assignments: Students should read the assignments and review the lecture outlines in the survival guide before the class lectures. Bring the survival guide to class. The assignments in Perry will be analyzed in class. Bring the Perry book to class.
  • The exams and quiz may be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. They will be based upon lectures and all reading assignments. Make-up exams will be given only in exceptional circumstances.
  • Bradley and Duby: There will be class discussions of the Bradley and Duby books based upon questions handed out by the instructor. Students are required to attend the two discussions and to submit typed answers to the study questions on the day of the discussion. No late answers will be accepted.
  • Perry Assignments: Students are required to type out the answers to the questions in the Survival guide on a separate sheet of paper. During the semester, I will periodically collect your answers, but I will not announce the dates. Each assignment completed and collected will be worth an extra ten points on your final total. If you are absent on a day I collect the assignment, you may not make it up. To discusss the questions in Perry, the class will be divided into eight groups of approximately five students. Each group will be responsible for two assignments during the semester. On the assigned date, members of the group will discuss their answers with the rest of the class.
  • Optional Assignments (See Attached List): Each project is worth five to ten points added to your total points to a maximum of 50 points. The projects must be turned in on the date assigned. No late projects will be acccepted.

E. Topics and Assignments (N.B. Dates may vary from the following schedule. Changes will be announced in class.) Note: # refers to document number in all classes. 

2/2

Introduction; From pre-history to history
McKay, I:3-10

I. THE RISE OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS (to c. l200)

 

2/4, 9

Mesopotamia and the Hittites
McKay, I:10-21;26-31
Perry, I, Document #s 1,3, 8
Optional Project (OP) #1 due

2/11

Egypt
McKay, I:20-26
Perry, I, #s 4, 5
Perry Discussion Group 1
OP #2 due

2/16

Egypt, cont.; Minoan and Mycenaean Societies
McKay, I:31-33; III:63-68
OP #3 due

II. SUCCESSOR STATES AND EMPIRES (to c. 500)

 

2/18, 23

Egypt, the Hebrews, Assyria
McKay, II:37-5l
Perry, II
Perry Discussion Group 2

2/25, 3/2

Persia, the Early Greeks
McKay, II:51-58, III: 68-80
Perry, III, #s 1, 2
Perry Discussion Group 3

3/4 FIRST EXAMINATION: PRE-HISTORY, I-II

III. HELLENIC AND HELLENISTIC SOCIETIES

 

3/9

Classical Greece: Military and Political.
McKay, III:80-83, 97-99
Perry, III, #s 7, 9
Perry Discussion Group 4 (p. 27)
OP #4 due

3/11

Classical Greece: History and Drama
McKay, III:83-87
Perry, III, #3 (Thucydides), # 5, 6
Perry Discussion Group 5 (p. 27a)

3/16

Classical Greece: Philosophy and Society
McKay, III:87-97
Perry, III, #s 4 (Sophocles), 8, 10, 11, 12
Perry Discussion Group 6 (p. 27b)
OP #5 due

3/18

Hellenistic World
McKay, IV
Perry, III, #s 13, 14
Perry Discussion Group 7

 

3/23 QUIZ, III

IV. THE ROMAN WORLD

 

3/23, 25

 

The Republic
McKay, V
Perry, IV, #s 1, 2 (Livy), 5
Perry Discussion Group #8
OP #6 due

4/6

 

From Republic to Empire
McKay, VI:162-70, 175-85
Perry, V, # s 1, 3 (Marcus Aurelius)
Perry Discusson Group 6 (p. 40)
OP #7 due

4/8

The Rise of Christianity
McKay, VI:170-75
Perry, VI, #s 1, 2, 4
Perry Discussion Group 8 (p. 4l)
OP #8 due

4/13, 15

The Later Empire and the Spread of Christianity
McKay, VI:185-93, VII:199-223
Perry, VI, #s 8, 9(Augustine)
Perry Discussion Group 5
Discussion: Bradley

V. THE EARLY MEDIEVAL EMPIRES

 

4/20, 22, 27

Byzantine, Islamic, and Frankish
McKay, VII:223-37; VIII:243-58, 262-67
Perry, VII, # 1 (Einhard)
Perry Discussion Group 1

 

4/29 SECOND EXAM: IV-V

 

VI. THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES

 

5/4

Feudal Society
McKay, VIII:259-62; X, XI:364-68
Perry, VII, #s, 6,7; VIII, # 8 (Cercamon)
Perry Discussion Group 2
OP #9 due

5/6

The Urban Revival; Secular and Religious Disputes
McKay, IX:272-83; XI:349-64
Perry, VIII, #s 1, 2
Perry Discussion Group 3

5/11

Popular Spirituality
McKay, IX:283-95; XI:368-71
Perry, VIII, #s 3, 4 (Gui), 7
Perry Discussion Group 4
OP #10 due
 

5/13

Feudal Conflicts
DISCUSSION: DUBY
McKay, XI:334-49
Perry, VIII, # 9 (Magna Carta)
Perry Discusson Group 7

VII. THE LATE MIDDLE AGES

5/18

Plagues, Popes, and Popular Religion
McKay, XI:371; XII:379-86, 392-96
Perry, VIII, #s 9 (Sprenger and Kramer), 11
Perry Discussion Group 7
OP #11 due
 

5/20

Political, Social, and Cultural Aspects
McKay, XII:386-92, 396-408
Perry, VIII, #s 9 (Pisan and Merchant), 13 (Dante)

5/27 FINAL EXAMINATION, VI-VII

 

 


Optional Projects: Optional projects are worth 10 points unless noted. They will be added to your total points to a maximum of 50 points. Your project answers, for the most part, must demonstrate an understanding of the readings and the cultures. For example, Gilgamesh's T-shirt could not possibly state "My reward will be in heaven." If you have questions, please consult me.

1. Design a T-shirt, slogan required but graphics optional, for Gilgamesh. 5 pts.

2. Take a virtual tour of the Great Pyramid and describe it.

3. Take a virtual tour of the Minoan palace at Knossos and describe it.

4. Take a virtual tour of the Acropolis and describe it.

5. Compose epitaphs (memoral inscriptions) for the tombstones of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. 5 pts.

6. As a Roman matron, write a reply to Cato.

7. Describe the various parts of Roman armor.

8. Write a short dialogue* between a pagan and a Christian.

9. Write a short dialogue* between a Roman slave and a Medieval serf.

10.Design a T-shirt, slogan rquired but graphics optional, for a knight of the First Crusade. 5 pts.

11. As a late Medieval woman, defend yourself against the opinions of Sprenger and Kramer.

 

*Short dialogue means about one page, single-spaced.

 

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