THIS WEBPAGE WAS LAST UPDATED 6/20/2000
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FOR INTERNET SOURCES CITATION USE THE GUIDE AVAILABLE BELOW:
MLA-STYLE
CITATIONS OF INTERNET RESOURCES
Readings:
Kagan, Donald. Western Heritage: V2, Since 1648.
6th Edition.
(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.
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 the early 1700s through the twentieth century. Since the course covers nearly three 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, our reference to our world as "Western Civilization" is the result of that European development and expansion. That is, the worldwide expansion of European civilization over the past few centuries has profoundly influenced peoples' lives throughout the world. In a sense, we are all, in one form or another, either a product of "Western Civilization" or somehow influenced by it.
European 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 European society in far off lands. Millions of peoples began world migrations, both forced and unforced, to many new and different places. 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, three essays, two exams, and a comprehensive final exam.
All students are strongly encouraged to ask questions throughout the lectures,
and ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION. I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY
LATE ASSIGNMENT REGARDLESS OF REASON.
Attendance:
Students are required to attend classes regularly and not miss more
than two 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 full grade
reduction for the final grade. There will be no make ups and late
assignments will not be accepted. Only in the case of family or personal
emergency with prior notification and substantial documentation will I
even begin to consider a deviation from this policy.
. Class Evaluation:
DISCUSSION/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:
June 26-June 30:
READ: 13-16
FILM: Versailles
Course Introduction. Guidelines, requirements, goals, and themes.
Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe
Daily Life: Agriculture, Population, Economy and Superstition.
The Old World in Change: The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment.
LINKS:
Eighteenth-Century
Resources: Links to Many Web Sites
Nicholaus
Copernicus (1473-1543)
Johannes Kepler
(1571-1630)
Galileo Galilei
(1564-1642)
Isaac
Newton 1642-1727)
John Locke (1632-1704)
July 3-July 7:
READ: 17-22
FILM: The "Industrial Revolution."
ESSAY
1 DUE MONDAY
Revolution in Politics: France and the U.S.
The Napoleonic Era and the Independence of Latin America--Recreating
a New World.
Revolution in Technology: The "Industrial Revolution."
LINKS:
The
French Revolution
The
Tennis Court Oath
The Napoleonic
Era
The Agricultural
Revolution
The Industrial Revolution
The Growth of the City and its Implications.
Nationalism.
LINKS:
The Industrial
Revolution
British Industrialization
U.S. Industrialization
Imperialism.
World Migrations and the World Economy.
World War I.
July 24-July 28:
READ: 28-29
ESSAY
3 DUE MONDAY
20th Century Life Between Wars.
Europe and the Americas Between Wars: The Depression.
The Creation of Authoritarian and Totalitarian States.
World War II.