Download HIST 261 Spring 2016 1 HISTORY 261: EARLY WORLD HISTORY

HIST 261
Spring 2016
HISTORY 261: EARLY WORLD HISTORY TO 1300
(M/W/F 1:00 – 1:50
LA 2024)
Instructor:
Office Hrs:
Prof. Jason Hardgrave
M/W/F 10-12; T 11-3
Office:
Phone:
and by appointment
Email:
LA 3032
(812) 465-1221 office
(812) 858-1606 home
[email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students in this course will receive an overview of world history from the earliest civilizations to 1500 C.E. Blending chronological
development with thematic comparisons of world civilizations the materials for this class cover a wide range of geographic and cultural
areas. The development and exchange of representative cultural markers between examples of Western and non-Western societies
will be of particular interest. Students in this course will be introduced to history as a method and means of viewing the human
experience. They will examine the significance of continuity and change, relate events, ideas, and achievements to the context of their
times, and assess the role of individuals, institutions, and social processes in historical change. Students will pay particular attention to
primary source analysis, as well as critical review of the sources, uses and arguments within field. It must also be noted that this is a
WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE and students should expect to complete a number of quality, written assignments as an integral part
of the course. This course satisfies a requirement in the history major, history minor, and the social science secondary education
major.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The primary purposes of this course are to learn the process of history through historical analysis, and to elaborate ideas about the
development of world civilizations. The presentation and use of primary materials will give students an opportunity to see how people
of the past represented themselves, their lives, beliefs and thoughts, and their cultures. The ability to read, analyze, and contextualize
information carefully is a key not only to producing history but to being successful in all academic and professional work. In addition to
these skills, students are expected to become more familiar and knowledgeable about the world civilizations that form the basis of
modern life. When students leave this course they will not only have gained insight into the important names, dates, events, and
changes in world history up to 1500 C.E., but students will also have learned some of the techniques scholars use to examine evidence
of the past.
This is a writing-intensive world history course and as such, when students have completed this course, they should have developed
and/or improved their skills in the following areas:
1. Identify and analyze sources of history, orally and in writing.
6. Clearly and effectively write about history by using best
2. Critically evaluate evidence, different sources and points of view
practices of historians to draw conclusions about valid and
3. Distinguish fact from opinion
reliable evidence, and respecting your material by placing it into
4. Distinguish between primary and secondary sources
its appropriate historical context.
5. Locate and use credible print and online sources to identify
7. Understand, recall, and explain basic facts about the people,
reliable information to support an historical conclusion.
places, chronology and events of the past.
8. Compare world civilizations thematically and chronologically
9. Identify and show understanding of historical causality, change,
continuity and relevance.
Required Texts:
Connect Plus, with an included Electronic Edition of the Text. ISBN: 9780077504878If you want a loose leaf or
paperback, you may purchase one in addition to the digital.
Hardback - Jerry Bentley and Herbert Ziegler, Traditions & Encounters
Volume 1From Beginning to 1500, 6th ed. ISBN: 978-0077504908
Loose leaf - ISBN: 978-1259344572
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars ISBN: 978-0140455168
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS:
Additional readings, primary sources, and videos will be available through Blackboard.
1
HIST 261
Course Requirements:
Assignments
100 First Exam
(2/15)
150 Second Exam (3/14)
100 Final Exam
(4/29)
300 Quizzes
(weekly)
150 Homework & In Class Writings
200 Primary Source Paper (3/28)
Spring 2016
Grading Scale
1000-900 A
849-800
B
749-700
C
649-600
D
899-850 B+
799-750 C+
699-650 D+
599-0 F
Assignments:
Exams: Exams will test students' knowledge and analytical skills, presenting the information in a variety of formats. Maps, multiple choice,
matching, identification and essays may all be employed. Make-ups for exams will be scheduled within a week of the original exam, and students
must have acceptable documentation for the absence in order to be allowed to take the make-up. Excused absences require documentation from
student services; a doctor’s note, obituary, etc. will not be accepted. All make-ups for exams must be arranged BEFORE the date of the exam and
approved by the instructor, except in the cases of documented emergencies.
Quizzes: At the end of each chapter there will be a multiple choice quiz covering material in the book, only and specifically. The quiz will be
available from the start of the course, but each will close at 11:59 pm Friday following our work with that particular chapter.
Homework & In Class Writings: Students will be asked to regularly bring written responses, or compose them in class, to directed questions about
the reading assignments, both to encourage currency with the reading assignments and to generate discussions.
Attendance: Students will not be allowed to make up any missed work on the days they are absent without excuse. Excused absences require
documentation from student services, a doctor’s note, etc. If a student must miss class for a university sponsored activity, it is their responsibility to
contact the professor and do the work ahead of time in order to receive credit. All makeup work must be completed no later than one week after the
original due date of the assignment.
Primary Source Paper: These assignments each require that students compose a 5-7 page analysis paper on the assigned primary text. What
historians know about civilizations comes from primary sources. These are the raw materials from which historical analyses and conclusions are
made, and understanding of the past is achieved. In these assignments students will be introduced to this process. Students will critically read an
assigned primary source, analyze it, and write a critical analysis of it. Not only will the paper examine the material in the source, it will also
contextualize it. Thus, the paper must be an explanation of the historical value of the text, both in its own period and to modern historians. Students
must emphasize what the source illustrates about the civilization, but must also indicate how they know this through direct references and
examination of the source.
The paper must include a thesis statement that explains succinctly the purpose of the document, and its historical significance; a minimum of
three supporting ideas that validate the thesis and have their foundation in the text. The remainder of the essay should be an elaboration and
support of the key themes and in turn the central thesis. Do not use any outside sources, including and especially the internet. The paper
should include a brief, but explanatory summary and an analysis of the text itself, the author's objectives and assumptions, the audience, and the
historical context. Be sure to account for any perceived, potential, latent, and obvious bias. Use quotes from the text to substantiate your ideas.
You must cite all references to the text in proper Chicago Manual of Style format. It is also important in the paper to analyze and explain the
significance of relevant terms and, word choice, and language use in general in the document. Finally, analyze and explain the historical
significance of the piece in its own time, as well as today, and indicate how the document might be used to construct history.
General advice: Do not simply summarize the contents. When writing an analysis, particularly of a primary source, the student must demonstrate
explicitly for the reader how and why understanding of the source contents has shaped the student’s interpretation of it and the assessment of its
significance. A complete description and discussion of the assignment will be made available on Blackboard. No late papers or excuses will be
accepted.
2
HIST 261
Spring 2016
Policies and Guidelines:
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty and plagiarism in particular, will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty is a reprehensible and grievous
offense to the learning process and educational environment of all students. As such, any occurrences will be punished to the full extent of
department and university policy. This shall include, but not be limited to: 1. No points for the assignment/exam, 2. Potential failure of the
course. The student will be required to sign an academic integrity report that will be submitted to the dean of students. USI considers academic
dishonesty (defined by the Dean of Students as cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference with another student’s work, or facilitating academic
dishonesty) to be a serious misconduct and subject to disciplinary measures up to and including expulsion from the university. These infractions and
the penalties are explained further at the Dean of Students’ website: http://www.usi.edu/media/3379739/Academic-Integrity-Policy-Interim-Fall2014.pdf It is your responsibility to read this and comply with its requirements. Even in instances of informal resolution between student and
instructor will be entered into the university’s Maxient system.
Disability Support Services: If you have a disability for which you may require academic accommodations for this class, please register with
Disability Resources (DR) as soon as possible. Students who have or who receive an accommodation letter from DR are encouraged to meet
privately with course faculty to discuss the provisions of those accommodations as early in the semester as possible. To qualify for accommodation
assistance, students must first register to use the disability resources in DR, Orr Center Rm. 095, 812-464-1961 http://www.usi.edu/disabilities. To
help ensure that accommodations will be available when needed, students are encouraged to meet with course faculty at least 7 days prior to the
actual need for the accommodation.
USI Policy On Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, And Gender Violence: USI is committed to creating and maintaining an educational and
work environment free of all violence in which all members of the USI community are treated with respect and dignity. USI condemns all genderbased discrimination including sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment, and all other forms of non-consensual sexual activity. The USI Code of
Conduct prohibits all forms of gender-based violence, harassment, and exploitation.
Withdrawal from the course: If you complete the procedure for a Withdrawal from this class beginning with the first day of the term through Friday
3/18, you will receive a ‘W’ for the course. If you complete the procedure for a Withdrawal between 1/11 and Friday 3/18, you will receive the grade
‘W’ if you are passing with a D or above at the time you drop the course. However, if you are failing at the time you drop the course, you will receive
a grade of ‘F.’ It is in keeping with University policy that students who withdraw from a class after the Friday of the ninth week of the term
and have a failing grade in the class at time of withdrawal will receive an F, not a W.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: In the case of inclement weather please check your USI e-mail every day. In case of inclement weather or if I
must cancel the class due to other reasons, I will send an e-mail to all students in the class and post a notice on the Blackboard web site no later
than 2 hours before the class is scheduled to meet. Please sign up for the USI text message system in order to get the most up-to-date information
about university closings due to weather.
COURSE EVALUATIONS: Course evaluations are administered near the end of the semester. They are an integral part of the teaching and
learning process. At the University of Southern Indiana, course evaluations are used for many purposes. These purposes include curriculum and
assignment review, course structure changes, changes in instructional delivery as well as the university’s evaluation of, and continuous improvement
efforts for, faculty and faculty development initiatives. Please complete the course evaluations for this course with care, thought and attention toward
the improvement of the class, the faculty and the university community overall.
Classroom decorum: This is a learning environment that not only demands your attention but also requires your active participation and
engagement with the materials. As such, you are expected to arrive on time and remain for the entire class period and be prepared to fully
participate in that day’s activities. You will need to bring materials for writing, and may be asked to bring readings, to class. Please respect other
people, their possessions, and their opinions. All input related to the course is welcomed and encouraged. Disrespectful or disruptive behavior can
not be tolerated and individuals may be asked to leave.
Absences from class, including university-sponsored activities, are only excused with proper documentation from student services, student
organizations, or university athletics. Excused students will be allowed to make up the missed work within one week of the absence. Students with
undocumented and unexcused absences will not be allowed to make up missed work. You are expected to have completed the assigned readings
BEFORE class, so that you can discuss them and refer to your notes on them.
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED!
3
HIST 261
DAY
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
M
W
F
DATE
1/11
1/13
1/15
1/18
1/20
1/22
1/25
1/27
1/29
2/1
2/3
2/5
2/8
2/10
2/12
2/15
2/17
2/19
2/22
2/24
2/26
2/29
3/2
3 /4
3/7-11
3/14
3/16
3/18
Spring 2016
READINGS and TOPICS SCHEDULE – May be Altered With Notice
TOPIC
READINGS
Syllabus Review, How to Read, What to Know
Orientation
Policies & Procedures Course Smart/Connect online system Orientation
Neolithic Revolution
Chapter 1: Before History
MLK HOLIDAY
NO CLASSES
Mesopotamia
Chapter 2: Early Societies in Southwest Asia
Hebrews/Phoenicians
Egypt
Chapter 3: Early African Societies
Egypt II
Bantu Migrations
India
Chapter 4: Early Societies in South Asia
India
Chapter 9: State, Society and the Quest for Salvation in India
India
China
Chapter 5: Early Society in Mainland East Asia
China
China
Chapter 8: Unification of China
EXAM I
EXAM I
Olmec & Maya
Chapter 6: Early Societies in the Americas & Oceania
New Guinea
Foundations
Chapter 7: Empires of Persia
Xerxes
Hellenic
Chapter 10: Mediterranean Society – Greek Phase
Hellenistic
Republic
Chapter 11: Mediterranean Society – Roman Phase
Empire
SPRING BREAK
NO CLASSES
EXAM II
EXAM II
Religion, disease, goods Chapter 12: Cross-Cultural Exchange on the Silk Road
Fall of Empires
ASSIGNMENTS
NO CLASSES
Hammurabi’s Laws Analysis
Chapter 1 quiz
Primary Sources (pg 62-63)
Hymn to Osiris
Chapter 2 quiz
Rig-Veda
Bhagavad Gita on Castes
Chapter 3 quiz
Tomb of Fu Hao
Chapters 4 & 9 quiz
EXAM I
Popol Vuh
Chapter quiz 5 & 8
Zarathustra on Good and Evil
Chapter 6 quiz
Arrian – Alexander of Macedon
Chapter 7 quiz
NO CLASSES
EXAM II
Chapters 10 & 11 quiz
M
W
F
3/21
3/23
3/25
Korea, Vietnam & Japan
Chapter 13: Resurgence of Empire in East Asia
Sui, Tang, Song Dynasties
Chapter 12 quiz
4
HIST 261
DAY
M
3/28
W
3/30
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
M
4/1
4/4
4/6
4/8
4/11
4/13
4/15
4/18
4/20
4/22
4/25
4/27
4/29
Spring 2016
TOPIC
NO CLASSES
READINGS
Chapter 14: Expansive Realm of Islam
NO CLASSES
Chapter 15: India and the Indian Ocean Basin
ASSIGNMENTS
Primary Source Paper
(Twelve Caesars) DUE
Quran Excerpts
Chapter 13 quiz
NO CLASSES
Chapter 14 quiz
Chapter 16: Two Worlds of Christendom
Chapter 15 quiz
Chapter 17: Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration
Chapter 16 quiz
NO CLASSES
FINAL EXAM
Chapter 18: States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa
STUDY DAY
FINAL EXAM
NO CLASSES
FINAL EXAM
5