Western Civilization I, Spring 2001

HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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History 103: Western Civilization I
Anthony A. Ball, Instructor

On-Line Course Syllabus, Spring 2001

Sample Essays

Past Tests (Samples)

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Required Text:
Margaret L. King, Western Civilization, A Social and Cultural History, Vol. I (Prentice Hall, 2000).

Instructor:
Anthony A. Ball, (203) 332-5170, Office A-211. Send e-mail to TonyBall96@aol.com or click the envelope icon to the left.

Class Meetings:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30-10:50 a.m., Room A221

Office Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Thursdays, 9:00-11:00 a.m., or by appointment.

Course Description:
The development of Western civilization from the ancient world through the middle ages to early modern times. Particular emphasis is placed upon the classical legacy, feudalism, the growth of monarchical power, the Renaissance and the Reformation.

Parallel/Prerequisite:
English 101

Course Requirements:
25% Four tests (2/12, 3/7, 4/2 and 5/2). Each test will consist of multiple choice, true/false, and short essay questions. Absent a genuine and documented emergency, there will be no makeup examinations. However, I will substantially discount your lowest test grade when calculating your final grade. Click the Textbook Resources icon to go to practice questions.

25% A 5-7 page paper, to be assigned on 2/7 and due on 5/7. Each paper will utilize primary sources to examine a problem or issue in Western Civilization. We will discuss this assignment in greater length on 2/7.

25% A Final Examination, on 5/14, covering all material.

25% Class Attendance and Participation. This grade is based on three factors: (1) actual attendance; (2) demonstrated preparedness; (3) meaningful contributions to class discussions.

Extra Credit. I will provide 4-5 short extra credit assignments. You may use these to supplement low grades on any of the short tests. However, to receive a passing grade in the course, you must still take and pass the final examination.

Schedule of Classes and Readings
Date(s)	Topic	Assigned Reading (to be done prior to class)
1/17	Introductions, Overview of Course	None
Part I: The Origins of the West (From the First Civilizations to Alexander the Great)
1/22	Prehistory and Early Civilizations	Chapter 1 Review Questions 1, 2, 3, 4
1/24	Armies and Empires: Politics and Power in the Bronze and Iron Ages	Chapter 2 Review Questions 1, 2, 3
1/29 and 1/31	The Greek Polis	Chapter 3 Review Questions 2, 3, 5
2/5 and 2/7	The School of Hellas: Poetry, Ideas, and the Arts in Ancient Greece; Paper Assignments Distributed (2/7)	Chapter 4 Review Questions 1, 4, 6
2/12	Test #1, Covering Chapters 1-4; Lectures through 2/7.
Part II: The Origins of the West (From Roman Dominion to the New Peoples of Europe)
2/14	Our Sea: The Mediterranean World in the Hellenic and Early Roman Eras	Chapter 5 Review Questions 4, 6
2/19	President's Day: No Class
2/21 and 2/26	Pax Romana: Society, State and Culture in Imperial Rome	Chapter 6 Review Questions 2, 4, 6
2/28	Pagans, Jews and Christians: Religions of the Mediterranean World	Chapter 7 Review Questions 3, 4, 5, 6
3/5	After Antiquity: New Peoples of Europe and Other Peoples of the World	Chapter 8 Review Questions 1, 3, 6
3/7	Test #2, Covering Chapters 5-8; Lectures from 2/14 through 3/5.
Part III: The West Takes Form
3/12	Workers, Warriors and Kings: Politics and Society in the Middle Ages	Chapter 9 Review Questions 2, 3, 6
3/14	The Spiritual Sword: Religion and Culture in the Middle Ages	Chapter 10 Review Questions 3, 4, 5
3/19 and 3/21	Spring Break: No Classes
3/26 and 3/28	In the Name of Profit: Cities, Merchants and Trade in the Middle Ages	Chapter 11 Review Questions 1, 2, 3, 5
4/2	Test #3, Covering Chapters 9-11; Lectures from 3/12 through 3/28.
Part IV: The West Expands
4/4	City Life: Public and Private Life in the Late Medieval Cities	Chapter 12 Review Questions 1, 2, 3, 6
4/9 and 4/11	Rebirth in Italy: The Civilization of the Italian Renaissance	Chapter 13 Review Questions 1, 2, 5, 6
4/16 and 4/18	Of One Church, Many: Protestant Reformation and Catholic Reform	Chapter 14 Review Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
4/23 and 4/25	Absolute Power: War and Politics in Early Modern Europe	Chapter 15 Review Questions 1, 5, 6
4/30	Europe Reaches Out: Global Voyages and Cultural Encounters	Chapter 16 Review Questions 2, 4, 5
5/2	Test #4, Covering Chapters 12-16; Lectures from 4/4 through 5/2.
5/7	Paper Discussion; Wrap-Up	None; Final Papers Due
The Final Examination will be on 5/14, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The final will be cumulative, meaning it will cover material from the entire course.