Download University of North Texas, Spring Semester 2011

History 1050: World History to the 16th Century
University of North Texas, Spring Semester 2011
Department of History
Instructor: Dr. Walter Roberts
Office: Wooten Hall 227
Office Hours: M-TH 3-5 PM; or by appointment
Office Phone: 940-565-2489
E-Mail: [email protected]
Course Description and Objectives
As citizens of an increasingly global society, it is imperative that we have a basic
understanding of the social, political, economic, and religious developments that have
shaped the world as we know it today. This course is meant to provide you with an
overview of the events and ideas that shaped world history until ca. 1500 CE. More than
a dry recitation of facts and dates, however, this course is designed to encourage you to
examine critically the issues put forth and to ultimately form your own educated opinions
about them. We will do this by supplementing the basic textbook with lectures,
discussions, readings from selected primary sources (in translation), and the occasional
audio/video presentations.
Student Learning Outcomes
1) Identify the basic events and chronology of world history to ca. 1500 CE.
2) Place the developments of early world history into a wider context; that is, how do the
developments of pre-1500 world history inform our understanding of modern society?
3) Explain the difference between primary and secondary historical sources.
4) Be able to formulate an analytical argument about historical issues for the pre-modern
period using analysis of primary and secondary sources.
5) Be able to assess critically primary sources on pre-modern world history.
Required Texts
The following are available for purchase at the campus bookstore
Kevin Reilly, ed. Worlds of History: Volume 1 to 1550. 4th edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s,
2010)
Howard Spodek, The World’s History, Volume 1: Prehistory to 1500. 4th edition.
(Prentice Hall, 2009)
Grading and Evaluation
Exam One: 30%
Exam Two: 30%
Exam Three: 30%
Attendance and Participation: 10%
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The value for all grades in this course will be based on a standard collegiate scale:
90-100%: A; 80-89%: B; 70-79%: C; 60-69%: D; 59% or lower: F
Exams
The three exams will be in-class green book tests, given on the dates noted below,
consisting of multiple choice questions, short identifications, and short essays. These
exams are not cumulative and each will be 30% of your final course grade. If missing an
exam is unavoidable due to extenuating circumstances (definition decided by me,
not you!), the student must give reasonable prior notification and documentation for
the reason they are missing the exam. In such cases the student must arrange with
me to make up the work in question within 2 weeks of the original date of the exam.
There will be no date changes or make-ups given for the final exam.
Attendance and Participation
A crucial aspect of your learning in this course is attending class and participating. It is
imperative that you do the readings, come to class, and participate in our discussions.
Much on the exams comes from the lectures, discussion, and the readings. You cannot
simply skim the textbook while skipping class and hope to do well. If you do not come
to class and participate in the discussions, you will do poorly in this course. The formula
that I will use to calculate this portion of the grade (10% of your overall final grade) is as
follows. For every class, I will grade each student on a scale of 1-10—for just
showing up, you will get 7.5 points; additional points (for up to 10 points total per
class) will be gained based on the amount and quality of your individual
participation; points will be deducted if you are late or leave early without my prior
consent, or if you are otherwise being disruptive in class. Obviously, if you are
absent you get no points. Normally, I do not deal in excused vs. unexcused absences,
but for a documented medical situation, official documented school function, or an
extreme crisis (determined by me, not you!), you will receive 5.9 points for that class
you missed. At the end of the quarter, I will determine a point curve based upon
giving the top performers the full 10% for this part of their grade, and everyone else
will get a percentage based on their point totals relative to the top performers.
Students that are habitually late to class, regularly exit class early, or otherwise
disrupt class will be subject to being administratively dropped from the course. The
list of disruptive behaviors includes, but is certainly not limited to: sleeping; cell
phone use or cell phone ringer going off; texting; chatting with your peers while I’m
lecturing or another of your peers has the floor; surfing the web; doing other
coursework. I also reserve the right to ask you to leave the class if I deem such
disruptive behavior to be especially egregious. In short, I will treat you as adults as
long as you show me and your peers the same courtesy.
University of North Texas Code of Student Conduct
This code is in effect for all aspects of this course. Academic dishonesty in any form will
not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to University policy. If you are unclear
about the Code of Student Conduct, please refer to section 18.11 of the University Policy
Manual found on the University’s website or come see me.
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Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The University of North Texas is committed to giving equal access to its programs,
services, and activities to students with disabilities. If you need accommodations in this
class due to a disability, you must register with the Office of Disability Accommodation
and request that they send me official notification of your accommodation needs as soon
as possible, and you can then meet with me in private to make arrangements for
accommodating your disability. If you have any questions regarding the University’s
policy on this issue please refer to the ODA web page, which can be accessed through the
University’s main website, or come see me.
Course Web Page
This course has its own Web page on the Blackboard site. This web page will contain the
syllabus, assignment guidelines, and other supplemental course materials. It is important
that you check the Web page on a regular basis to get your assignments and access
material that will make this course more manageable.
Class Schedule (Order of topics and assignments subject to change)
January 19-21: Pre-History and Concepts of Civilization
Readings: Spodek, Chapters 1; Reilly, Chapter 1 (Sections 1-3 and 5)
January 24-January 28: River Valley Civilizations—Mesopotamia
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 2; Reilly, Chapter 2 (Sections 1-3)
January 31-February 4: River Valley Civilizations— Egypt
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 3; Reilly, Chapter 2 (Sections 4-6)
February 7-11: The Early Americas
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 4; Reilly, Chapter 2 (Section 4) and Chapter 8 (Section 8)
February 14: Exam 1 in our normal classroom at the usual time.
February 16-25: Persia and Greece
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 5; Reilly, Chapter 3 (Sections 6-8)
February 28-March 11: The Roman Republic and Empire
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 6; Reilly, Chapter 4 (Sections 6-8)
March 21-25: Imperial China
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 7; Reilly, Chapter 4 (Sections 1-5)
March 28-April 6: Early India
Readings: Spodek, Chapters 8-9; Reilly, Chapter 3 (Sections 1-5) and Chapter 6 (Sections
1-4)
April 8: Exam 2 in our normal classroom at the usual time.
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April 11-22: Judaism and Christianity
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 10; Reilly, Chapter 6 (Sections 5-8) and Chapter 7 (Sections
1-4)
April 25-29: Islam
Readings: Spodek, Chapter 11; Reilly, Chapter 7 (Sections 6-8) and Chapter 8 (Sections
2-5)
May 2-4: Establishing a Global Culture
Readings: Spodek, Chapters 12-13; Reilly, Chapter 13
Friday, May 13: Exam 3 in our normal classroom from 8-10 AM.
IMPORTANT DATES
February 14: Exam 1 in our normal classroom at the usual time.
March 29: Last day to drop the course to avoid a grade of “WF.”
April 8: Exam 2 in our normal classroom at the usual time.
March 14-18: Spring Break (No Class)
Friday, May 13: Exam 3 in our normal classroom from 8-10 AM.
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