FOR INTERNET SOURCES CITATION USE THE GUIDE AVAILABLE BELOW:
MLA-STYLE
CITATIONS OF INTERNET RESOURCES
Readings:
John P. McKay, Bennett D. Hill, and John Buckler. A History of Western
Society. Volume I, From Antiquity to the Enlightenment. Fifth Edition.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995.
(READING PACKET): Sources from the Humanities: History and Religious Studies. First Edition.
Additional readings distributed in class, on reserve at the library, and linked to this syllabus. Assignments TBA.
General Resources:
Search the
Internet
U. of Dayton Library and Online
Resources from Ohiolink
U. of Dayton
Department of History Homepage (History Resources)
U. of South Dakota History
Students Web Project
U. of Dayton Humanities Base
Homepage
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a thematic and chronological survey of "Western Civilization" from ancient world through the 1600s. Since the course covers centuries of sometimes very diverse history which virtually spans the globe, major themes are used to give it a sense of order. The course will stress the economic, technological, social, political, intellectual, cultural, and military development and expansion of "Western Civilization" and its impact on the world.
THEMES OF COURSE:
The development of European civilization (English, Spanish, French, German, etc.) and its subsequent expansion throughout the globe has been one of history's most important and significant events. In many ways, therefore, our reference to our world as "Western Civilization" is the result of that development and expansion spanning thousands of years. That expansion has its roots deep within the ancient Mediterrenean world which developed and expanded to encompass all of Europe and later most of the world.
Mediterrenean expansion exported ideas, systems of government, economy, and society throughout the world. Armies of soldiers, and more significantly, armies of colonists, conquered territories and established new pockets of society in far off lands. Different peoples came into contact and influenced each other. Intellectual, technological, social, economic and political innovation led to further development and expansion. Slowly, a "Western Civilization" was created which spread its ideas, problems, successes, conflicts, and tyranny through much of the world. In doing so, it profoundly influenced world development.
In essence, this course will try to discover what the term "Western Civilization" means to us and why it is important in terms of who we are as humans in our modern world. The basic question to remember as we travel through centuries of history is "How did we get to where we are today and what does it mean?" Therefore, throughout the course we will explore some of the fundamental issues of what it means to be human (autonomy and responsibility, the individual and society, faith and reason, and humans beings and nature) by analyzing historical applications of these issues.
REQUIREMENTS:
General:
Reading all the assignments by the assigned date, regular attendance
to lectures, five short essays due each Monday, two exams, and a comprehensive
final exam. All students are strongly encouraged to ask questions
throughout the lecture, participate in discussion, and come to office hours.
Attendance:
Students are required to attend classes regularly and not miss more
than three classes. Please remember that the lectures, discussion,
and the readings are the core of this course and therefore, you are expected
to attend all classes. Every two class periods missed after the first three,
for example absences five and six, will result in an automatic one half
grade reduction for the final grade. Due dates are cast in stone! There
will be no make up exams and late assignments will not be accepted. Only
in the case of family or personal emergency, with prior notification, will
I consider a deviation from this policy.
Class Evaluation:
DISCUSSION/FIVE ESSAYS 30% (150 points)
EXAMS 40% (200 points)
FINAL EXAM 30% (150 points)
TOTAL 100% (500 points)
Students can earn a maximum of 500 points throughout the semester. The
grading scale is:
450-500 points = 90-100% = A
400-449 points = 80-89% = B
350-399 points = 70-79% = C
300-349 points = 60-69% = D
299-below = = F
STUDENT PROGRESS WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Week 1 READ: McKay, Chapters 1, 2, 3
Course Introduction. Guidelines, requirements, goals, and themes.
Ancient Era: Fertile Crescent
Ancient Era: Egypt
Ancient Era: Greek Polis
Week 2 READ: McKay, Chapters 4, 5, 6
Ancient Era: Greek Empire
Ancient Era: Roman Republic
Ancient Era: Pax Romana and Christianity
Week 3 READ: McKay, Chapters 7, 8, 9
Medieval Era: Byzantium and Islam
Medieval Era: Lords and Serfrs
Medieval Era: Crusades
Week 5 READ: McKay, Chapters 13, 14, 15
Modern Era: Hallmarks of Renaissance
Modern Era: Reform and Renaissance
Modern Era: Expansion of Europe and War