Western Civilization I
HI 101
Fall 2010 MWF 9:00-10:05 200 CTC
Dr. Erika Lindgren erika.lindgren@wartburg.edu
314 Luther Hall 352-8201
Office Hours: W 7:45-8:45, MF 12- 1, and by appointment
Supplemental Instructor: Sean Corpstein sean.corpstein@wartburg.edu
SI meeting time:
Course Description
The first of two surveys of the history of Western Civilization, this course is designed to introduce students to the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural developments of major civilizations associated historically with European and European-influenced societies.
Course Goals: By the end of the term you should be able to:
1. Express a broad understanding of why and how western civilization developed during its first few millennia. This is the “Big Picture.”
2. Show knowledge of some of the key historical figures and events that shaped early western civilization.
3. Read, discuss, and write about primary source documents.
4. Understand how historians practice their craft.
5. Understand how art historians approach the material remains of western civilization {This course is Interconnected Fine Arts/Humanities)
6. Uncover some of the links between our current society and that of the past.
Course Themes:
This course covers a large span of history, and we will be limited in what we will have time to explore. The major themes that we will return to time and again will be:
1. What are the different ways that humans explain their place in society and the world?
2. How have different historical societies organized themselves?
3. How has the place of women and slaves changed over time and with different societies?
4. How have rulers gained, held, and lost power?
Required Texts
۰Lynn Hunt et al., The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures- A Concise History, vol. 1, 3rd ed.., New York: Bedford/St. Martin, 2007.
• John Aberth, The Black Death, Bedford St. Martin’s.
• Epictetus, Enchiridion, trans. George Long. Dover.
• Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince. Dover.
• Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates. Dover.
• Sophocles, Antigone. Dover
• The Rule of St. Benedict in English. Liturgical Press.
• Edwin Brezette DeWindt, A Slice of Life: Selected Documents of the Medieval English Peasant Experience. TEAMS
• Sallust, The Jugurthine War / The Conspiracy of Catiline. Penguin.
Copies of the syllabus and study guides for exams available on My.Wartburg and my website: http://faculty.wartburg.edu/lindgrene. Links to online sources will be provided.
Assignments
Readings- You are responsible for the readings assigned in this syllabus. On the day that they are assigned you should complete them before class. Always bring the day’s/week’s reading to class. Taking notes on what you read, on your computer, in a notebook, or in the margins of the text, will assist you in summarizing and remembering the major points of the texts.
Exams- There will be three exams, spaced throughout this course. Study guides will be provided. All exams will assume knowledge of previous exams.
Quizzes- Quizzes are marked on the syllabus with a Q. The quizzes cover the textbook readings. There are 2 quizzes for almost every chapter (There are 22 total, you may skip two or have me drop your two lowest scores). These are administered on My.Wartburg and must be completed before class on the day they are listed for [8:45 am]. The quizzes will usually be available 48 hours before the day they are marked. All quizzes are randomly generated and will time out after a reasonable amount of time. You will receive a grade immediately after taking the quiz, but will not be able to review your answers until after the quiz has closed for the class. If you need adjustment to this quiz-taking method due to a documented disability, please discuss this with the professor.
Late work will not be accepted unless prior arrangement has been made with the professor.
Participation-While primarily a lecture class, there will be opportunities for students to ask and answer questions, as well as often opportunities to discuss issues raised by the primary source documents. Just being present does not count as participation.
Grading and Attendance Policy
Exam 1 200
Exam 2 200
Exam 3 200
Participation 200
Quizzes (20) 200
You are responsible for all material covered in the classes you miss. If you miss more than 10% of the class meetings, your final course grade will be docked. Missing class also means you cannot contribute to your participation in class. If you fail to take any of the exams, you will receive a grade of F for the course. In the case of absence due to documented illness or documented participation in College-related activities, alternatives may be arranged.
Honor Code/Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the representation of the work or ideas of others as your own. Plagiarism can result from failing to cite a source, giving insufficient credit to the original authors, closely paraphrasing without attribution, and direct copying. The Academic Policies Committee of Student Senate and the Honor Council have asked faculty to remind students that “[a]s a matter of personal commitment, students, faculty, and staff of Wartburg College are expected to demonstrate three simple principles:
1) All work submitted be your own.
2) When using the work or ideas of others, including fellow students, give full credit through accurate citations.
3) Maintain academic honesty both on examinations and class assignments.
If you are uncertain about the ground rules on a particular assignment, ask for clarification. All are responsible for abiding by these guidelines and opposing academic dishonesty by reporting any act that goes against these guidelines.”[1] All forms of plagiarism and cheating will result in severe academic penalties. In most cases the assignment will receive a zero and the instructor reserves the right to report this academic dishonesty to the student’s advisor and the dean. In some cases, the students will be given a failing grade for the course
Special Needs
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( ADA ) provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students requesting instructional accommodations due to disabilities must arrange for such accommodations by contacting Carla Coates, Pathways Associate for Testing and Disability Services, in the Pathways Center, located on the third floor of Vogel Library. She may be reached by phone at ext. 8230 or by e-mail at carla.coates@wartburg.edu.
Classroom policies:
2. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, beepers, and noisy watches.
3. No texting or messaging in class.
4. You may only record my classes with my permission.
5. If you know you must leave early, let me know before class and sit near the door.
6. Limit exiting and reentering the classroom during the class period. It is disruptive to your fellow students and distracting to the professor.
7. Make sure you put your name on everything you turn in!
8. Follow the directions on all assignments! It will save headaches and heartaches.
9. I have nothing against food and drink in the classroom. Just make sure it is not too messy, smelly, or noisy- NO chips!! AND PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF!
Schedule of Classes: Readings to be completed before class on the day they are listed.
Week One
September 8 Introduction
10 The beginnings of history in the “West” Q
Read: Chapter 1, 3-29.
Week Two
13 Early Civilizations Q
Read: Chapter 1, 29-44.
15 Enter the Greeks Q
Read: Chapter 2
17 Video Assignment Q
Read: Sophocles, Antigone
Week Three
20 Drama, gender and the polis Q
Read: Chapter 3
22 Greek Society Q
Read: TBA
24 Greek Thought
Read: Apology and Crito in Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates
Week Four
27 EXAM 1
29 Early Rome Q
Read: Chapter 4
October 1 The Republic Expands Q
Read: Sallust, The Jugurthine War
Week Five
4 The Republic Expands More
Read: Sallust, The Jugurthine War
6 NO CLASS
Read: Sallust, The Conspiracy of Catiline
8 OUTFLY PLACEHOLDER
Week Six
11 The Republic turns to Empire Q
Read: Chapter 5
13 The Roman Empire Q
Read: Deeds of Augustus
15 The Roman Empire
Read: Epictetus, Enchiridion
Week Seven
18 The Late Empire Q
Read: Chapter 6
20 The Late Empire Q
Read: The Rule of St. Benedict
22 Christianity
Read: The Rule of St. Benedict HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Week Eight
25 EXAM 2
27 Early medieval Europe Q
Read: Chapter 7
29 FALL BREAK
Week Nine
November 1 Merovingians Q
Read: TBA
3 Carolingians and others in the Early Middle Ages Q
Read: Chapter 8
5 Carolingians Q
Read: The Life of Charlemagne
Week Ten
8 Feudalism- the dirty F-word
Read: TBA
10 Changing Medieval Society Q
Read: Chapter 9
12 Medieval Society Q
Read: TBA
Week Eleven
15 Medieval Art
Read: TBA
17 The High Middle Ages Q
Read: Chapter 10
19 Dealing with Records Q
Read: A Slice of Life
Week Twelve
22 Dealing with Records
Read: A Slice of Life
24 The Later Middle Ages Q Short classes
Read: Chapter 11, 393-408
26 THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week Thirteen
29 Death and Misery in the 14th century
Read: The Black Death
December 1 Death and Misery in the 14th century
Read: The Black Death
3 Death and Misery in the 14th century
Read: The Black Death
Week Fourteen
7 The Renaissance Q
Read: Chapter 11, 408-424
9 Renaissance Politics
Read: The Prince
11 Renaissance Politics
Read: The Prince
Final examination session is on Monday December 13, 1:30-3:30 pm. EXAM 3
The professor reserves the right to make changes to syllabus, and will notify students when she does so.