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HISTORY 1300:
WESTERN CIVILIZATION I

Second Summer Term 2008, MTuWThF at 8:00 am, HH 128

TEACHER
John Howe
Office: 143 Holden Hall, Department of History
Office Hours: MTuWThF 12:00-12:30; M 1:30-3:30; and by appointment
Telephone: 806 742-1004 ext 233; 806 438-1321
E-Mail: john.howe@ttu.edu
Web: http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/howe
Fax:  806 742-1060
 

PURPOSES OF THE COURSE
            To acquire a general knowledge of Western Civilization from its origins to the mid seventeenth century: its great leaders and innovators; its forms of political organization; and its artistic literary, philosophical and religious achievements. To learn the origins of our contemporary civilization. To acquire self-knowledge through increased understanding of peoples and cultures different from, yet related to, our own. 

Expected Learning Outcomes
    Upon successful completion of this class students will be able to:
            1.  Describe major events and individuals associated with the development of Western Civilization;
            2.  Discuss the historical methodology that underlies the construction of this historical narrative, and recognize its applicability to contemporary problems;
            3.  Appreciate in greater detail how today's civilization depends upon events, ideas, and artistic expressions developed prior to the industrial revolution;
            4.  Appreciate human behavior and ideas in greater depth by studying multiple cultural contexts and value systems in earlier societies that were similar to and yet different from our own; and 
            5.  Achieve greater proficiency in the following genres of analytical historical writing:  essay examination and document analysis.    

Methods for Assessing the Expected Learning Outcomes
            The Expected Learning Outcomes of the course will be assessed through examinations, document analyses, class discussions, and miscellaneous classroom assessment activities that may include non-graded quizzes, reaction papers, polling the class, and other techniques.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Required Texts
Jackson R. Spielvogel.  Western Civilization.  Vol. I:  To 1715. 7th ed. Belmont CA:  Wadsworth:  Thompson Learning, 2008.
Also required is a set of documents to be taken from the Web. Their URLs are electronically linked to the Web version of this syllabus. Print these a few days in advance. Last minute consultations can be thwarted by server or network problems.

Required Reading
            Specific reading assignments for each class are listed in the "Reading and Lecture Schedule," just ahead and to the right of the lecture date by which they should be completed. Each assignment is the subject of the following lecture or discussion. Read so that you arrive in class prepared to explain, praise, criticize, and question. The assignments are manageable if read on schedule, but quickly become overwhelming if neglected.

Class Attendance
            Success in this course requires regular attendance. In the classroom difficult reading assignments are interpreted and contextualized; additional subject matter is introduced; and audio-visual materials are used. Summer school classes move so rapidly that absences are especially damaging. You should not be enrolled if you cannot attend 80% of the scheduled classes (i.e., do not miss more than four classes).

Examinations
            Hour-long midterm tests are scheduled for Thursday July 17 and Tuesday July 29. Each will include multiple-choice questions, identifications, a single essay (to be selected from two or more choices), and perhaps map work. If, for good reason, a test is missed, a make-up test may be taken at 2:30-3:30 pm on Monday, Aug 4. Students receiving a grade below "C" on a midterm should meet with the teacher to discuss it (this will be part of the class participation grade). The final examination, Thursday Aug 7 at 11:00-1:30, will feature multiple-choice and identification questions on the material covered since the second midterm, and several essay questions (to be chosen out of six or more alternative questions) covering the material of the entire course.  Bring blue books for the final.

Document Analyses
            Students will write seven short analyses of particular historical documents.  In their analyses they will answer questions that focus on several different levels historians use in reading documents:  1) orienting the document in time and space; 2) analyzing its audience and intentions; and 3) investigating underlying values and assumptions.  These assignments will be graded for analysis, not for research:  although you are welcome to seek out more information, grades will be based upon analysis of the material presented (note, however, that "material presented" includes not only the documents themselves but also information about them which can be found in the Spielvogel text).  Although handwritten analyses will be accepted, the better procedure is to copy the questions into a computer file that will allow you to type out an answer after each question--this generally produces neater work and makes it easier to make changes (close reading of a document can produce new insights that may require the rewriting of your earlier answers).  Have the completed source analyses ready by class time on the date due.  Late assignments will be penalized one grade.  After corrected copies of the assignment have been returned to the class, late submissions of that assignment will no longer be accepted (leading to a grade of F for the assignment in question)  .


GRADING
            The course grade will be computed as follows: 30% from the midterm tests (that is, 15% from each); 30% from documentary source analyses (that is, 5% for each of the six best); 10% from class participation; and 30% from the final.  The class participation grade is computed on the basis of attendance, class preparation, and class contributions by dividing students up at the end of the semester into three groups: 1) outstanding; 2) generally average; and 3) significantly below acceptable standards. In computing the course grade, the first group gets the class participation component credited as an `A'; the second group has these points dropped out (so they neither help nor hurt); and the third group has them credited as an `F'.
 

NECESSARY ACCOMMODATIONS
             Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that the necessary accommodations can be made.   

 Observance of a religious Holy Day
            Texas House Bill 256 requires institutions of higher education to excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day. The student shall also be excused for time necessary to travel. An institution may not penalize the student for the absence and allows for the student to take an exam or complete an assignment from which the student is excused. No prior notification of the instructor is required.

PLAGIARISM                
            "It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity.  The attempt of students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension."   -- Texas Tech University Catalog. 

 

READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE

Tu July  8  Introduction / Humans before Civilization 

W July 9  Civilization Arises / Mesopotamian Civilization

Th July10   Egyptian Civilization

F July 11   The Hebrews / Near Eastern Empires

[F July 11  Last day to drop a course and to get a full refund]

M July 14  Greek Civilization

Tu July 15   Classical Greece / Greek History, Drama, Games, Art

W July 16   Greek Philosophy / Daily Life

Th July 17  Test No. 1 / Alexander

F July 18   The Hellenistic World / The Rise of Rome

M July 21   The End of the Roman Republic / The Principate

Tu July 22  Christianity and the Later Roman Empire

W July 23   The Heirs of Rome: the Latin West, the Greek East, and Islam

Th July  24  Carolingian Empire / Birth of Europe

F July 25   Western European Civilization Develops

M July 28  12th-Century Renaissance / Rise of Universities / Medieval Architecture

[M July 28 Last day to declare Pass/Fail, to drop a course, or to receive a grade of W for courses dropped.]

Tu July 29  Test No. 2 /  The Birth of the State in Medieval Europe

W July 30  Later Middle Ages

Th July 31   Italian Renaissance

F Aug 1    Northern Renaissance / Luther

M Aug 4   Religious Reformation

[M Aug  4, 2:30-3:30    Make-Up Exam ]

Tu Aug 5  Europe and the World

W Aug 6  The Nations, Economy, and Culture of Early Modern Europe

Th Aug 10 at 11:00-1:30  FINAL EXAMINATION

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