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Syllabus
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History 1013 World Civilization to 1660 Fall 2006 Arkansas State University
Instructor: Erik Gilbert
106 Wilson Hall
Phone: 972-2137
Email: egilbert@astate.edu
Web site: www.clt.astate.edu/egilbert
Required texts:
Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters
Andrea and Overfield, The Human Record, 5th ed., Vol. I: to 1700
Course Objectives
History 1013 will trace the broad patterns of global history from the agricultural revolution to the middle of the 17th century. When its all over you will know the basic outlines of the first 9500 years of human history, know the characteristics or "style" of the major civilizations, understand the ways in which these civilizations interacted and cross-fertilized each other, gain some understanding of the work historians do, and have some insight into the historical roots of the modern world.
Course Format
Each week we will have two lectures loosely based on the material in Bentley and Ziegler. On Fridays we will have discussion based on assigned readings in Andrea and Overfield.
Course Requirements
Essays: Each week you will write an essay. Topics for these essays are in the syllabus. You will hand in your essays at the end of each unit, usually a Friday, and they will be returned to you the next week. Essays may be handwritten, but it is better to use a computer. Each should be at least one page long. Each should be dated and given a title. Late essays will receive no credit. At the end of the semester you will turn in a portfolio containing all of your essays. Your portfolio will be graded in its entirety at the end of the semester.
Discussion: Most of our Friday class meeting will be devoted to discussion of the problems posed by the week's reading and lectures. You will come to class having done the reading and having written essays specifically tailored to the week's discussion topic. This way everyone will have something to contribute.
Tests, Quizzes, and such: There will be a map quiz, a mid-term, and a final exam.
Semester Essays: You will write an essay of 6-10 pages. The paper is to be based the documents in Andrea and Overfield. Choose a topic that is broad enough that it will cover at least five hundred years and three different civilizations. Your choice of topic must be approved by the instructor. You may consult the "Topical Contents" (p.xvii-xxvi) in Andrea and Overfield for ideas. A paper topic proposal that describes your topic and lists the sources you will be using is due in class on Sept. 29. An outline of your paper is due in class on Nov. 1. The finished paper is due in class on Nov 27.
Grades: Your final grade will be based on:
Essay Portfolio 30%
Tests and Quizzes 40%
Semester Essay 30%
Class Discussion will be worth a half a grade. Active contributors can expect to have their grades go up a half a grade (A- to A); the average contributors will find their grades holding steady; weak participants will have their grades lowered by a half grade.
Other Important Policies
Attendance: You must attend all class meetings, unless you have a medical excuse.
Academic Honesty: All work you hand in must be your own. While you are encouraged to study in groups, every piece of written work you give to me to be graded must be work you did independently. While I will presume that each of you is honest and I will not be looking over your shoulders, if you are caught cheating you will, at the minimum, fail the course.
Course Schedule
Unit 1 (August 21-Sept. 1) Introduction to the concept of world history and the rise of agriculture.
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chapter 1. A&0, Prologue, pp. P-1 to P-18, and source 7.
essay: question 7, page P-8.
Aug 30: First map quiz.
Unit 2 (Sept. 6-15) Rivers and Civilization: Mesopotamia , Egypt, India, and China
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chaps. 2, 4, and 5. A&O, Sources 1,3,5, and 8.
essay: page 9, question 4.
Unit 3 (Sept. 18-22) Classical Societies: India and the Middle EastReadings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chaps. 7 and 9. A&O, Sources 10,11,12,14,15, 18, 19.
essay: How are Ahura Mazda, the Lord, and Brahman alike/different?
Unit 4 (Sept. 25-29) Classical Societies: The Mediterranean and China
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chaps. 8 and 10. A&O, Sources 20, 21, 22, 25, 27.
essay: page 116 question 8.
Unit 5 (Oct 2-13) The First Afro-Eurasian Ecumene
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chaps. 11 and 12. A&O, Sources 29, 30, 32,33,34, 38, 41,42, 45, 46, 52, and 53.
essay: page 170, question 5
Mid–term Exam: in class Oct. 6.
Unit 6 (Oct. 16-20) Rise of Islam
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chapter 14. A&O, Sources 55, 56, 57, 59, and 62
essay: page 235, question 2.
Unit 7 (Oct 23-27) The Age of Chinese Hegemony
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chapter 15. A&O, Sources 67, 68, 69, 71, and 73.
essay: In source 71 do you see any evidence of foreign trade? What do you conclude from your answer?
Unit 8 (Oct 30-Nov 3) The Christian West
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chapters 13, 17, 20. A&O, Sources 81, 82, 83, 84, 88, and 89.
essay: page 356, question 7.
Unit 9 (Nov 6-10) Oceania, Africa, and the Americas.
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chaps. 6, 19. and 21. A&O, Sources 90, 91, 93, 94, and 95.
essay: page 404, question 5.
Unit 10 (Nov 13-17) The Pax Mongolica and the Indian Ocean
Readings: Bentley and Ziegler, Chaps 18 and 22. A&O, Sources 98, 99, 101, 102, 105, and 107.
essay: page 424, question 2.
Unit 11 (Nov 27-Dec 1) The New Sea Routes and the Neo-Europes
Readings: Gilbert and Reynolds, Chapter 17 (on reserve). A&, Sources 108, 110,111, 112.
No essay
Dec 4, Voluntary Study session, complete essay portfolio due in class.
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