Western Civilization II, Spring 2001

HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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History 104: Western Civilization II
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. II (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:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. -12:20 p.m., Room A228

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 major developments in Western civilization from the seventeenth century to the present. Particular emphasis is placed upon the age of Louis XIV, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the industrial revolution, modern imperialism, the growth of rivalry among the powerful nation-states of Europe, and the development of new political philosophies which have helped to produce the existing international situation.

Parallel/Prerequisite:
English 101

Course Requirements:
25% Three tests (2/22, 3/27 and 5/1). 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 2/6 and due on 5/3. 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 5/15, 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)
1/18	Introductions, Overview of Course	None
Part I: The West Expands -- Science, Enlightenment and Revolution (1500-1900)
1/23	Absolute Power: War and Politics in Early Modern Europe	Chapter 15 Review Questions 1, 5, 6
1/25	Europe Reaches Out: Global Voyages and Cultural Encounters	Chapter 16 Review Questions 2, 4, 5
1/30 and 2/1	The Age of Reason: Science, Schooling and Thought in Early Modern Europe	Chapter 17 Review Questions 2, 4, 5, 6
2/6	Town, Court and Country: Privilege and Poverty in Early Modern Europe; Paper Assignments Distributed	Chapter 18 Review Questions 1-6 (all)
2/8 and 2/13	Inalienable Rights: Revolution and its Promises in Anglo- and Latin America	Chapter 19 Review Questions 1, 4, 5
2/15 and 2/20	Revolt and Reorganization in Europe: From Absolute Monarchy to the Paris Commune	Chapter 20 Review Questions 1-6 (all)
2/22	Test #1, Covering Chapters 15-20; Lectures through 2/20.
Part II: The West Become Modern -- Industrialization, Imperialism Ideologies (1750-1914)
2/27 and 3/1	Machines in the Garden: The Industrialization of the West	Chapter 21 Review Questions 1, 5, 6
3/6	Lives of the Other Half: Western Society in an Industrial Age	Chapter 22 Review Questions 1, 2, 5, 6
3/8 and 3/13	The Western Imperium: European Migration, Settlement and Domination Around the Globe	Chapter 23 Review Questions 1, 4, 5, 6
3/15	Storm, Stress and Doubt: European Culture from Classicism to Modernism	Chapter 24 Review Questions 1-6 (all)
3/20 and 3/22	Spring Break: No Classes
3/27	Test #2, Covering Chapters 21-24; Lectures from 2/27 through 3/15.
Part III: Toward a New West -- Post-War, Post-Modern, Post-Industrial (1914-2001)
3/29 and 4/3	The Mighty are Fallen: The Trauma of World War I	Chapter 25 Review Questions 2, 3, 5, 6
4/5 and 4/10	The Triumph of Uncertainty: Cultural Innovation, Social Disruption, and Economic Collapse	Chapter 26 Review Questions 1, 4, 5
4/12 and 4/17	States in Conflict: Communism, Fascism, Democracy and the Crisis of World War II	Chapter 27 Review Questions 2, 3, 4, 5
4/19 and 4/24	The End of Imperialism: Decolonization and Statebuilding Around the Globe	Chapter 28 Review Questions 1, 3, 5, 6
4/26	Back from Armageddon: From the Bomb to the Internet	Chapter 29 Review Questions 1-6 (all)
5/1	Test #3, Covering Chapters 25-29; Lectures from 3/29-4/26
5/3	Paper Discussion; Epilogue	Chapter 30; Final Papers Due
The Final Examination will be on 5/15, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The final will be cumulative, meaning it will cover material from the entire course.