World Civilizations to 1500

HIS1101-146 / Fall 2003

Course Calendar

 

(Please note: Readings must be completed by class time on the day for which they are listed.)

 

 

Prologue: Exploring the Global Past

 

08/25   Welcome to the Course

 

08/27   The Art of Historical Inquiry

Reading: The Syllabus (Read thoroughly and raise questions in class.)

 

08/29   The Art of Historical Argument

Reading:   Article on the Iceman (To be distributed in class on 8/27.)

Goucher, pp. xxxi-xxxii & p. 944

 

 

Part I: The Origins of Civilization

 

09/01   Labor Day Holiday

 

09/03   Human Prehistory

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 18-40

 

09/05   From Hunter-Gatherer Societies to Civilization

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 42-65

 

09/08   Geography & Civilization

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 65-77, 80-84

                  Kosso, pp. 1-5 (“Human Habitation over Time: Locate and Label”)

 

09/10   Environmental Research Reports

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 84-117

                  Kosso, pp. 6-7 (“Major Regions: Locate and Label”);

                        Additionally, complete the map that includes your assigned region:

                        pp. 9-11 (“Near East and Egypt”)

                        pp. 14-15 (“Empires in Greece and Macedon”)

                        pp. 19-21 (“Imperialism Perfected: Rome and its Empire”)

                        pp. 24-25 (“Ancient Africa”)

                        pp. 27-29 (“China”)

                        pp. 31-33 (“Japan and Southeast Asia”)

                        pp. 35-37 (“Ancient India”)

                        pp. 39-41 (“The Early Americas”)

 

09/12   Environmental Research Reports, cont.

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 1-7

 

09/15   Water in the Ancient World

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 8-19

                  Review Kosso, pp. 6-7 & the relevant maps listed above.

 

09/17   Ancient Worldviews

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 120-152

 

09/19   The Power of the Written Word

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 20-27

 

09/22   Myth & Storytelling in Ancient Mesopotamia

Reading:   Gilgamesh: A Verse Narrative

                  Review Kosso, pp. 10-11 (“Near East and Egypt: Locate and Label”)

 

09/24   Interpreting Worldviews in the Ancient World

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 27-42

 

09/26   The Worldview of the Classical Greeks

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 152-164

                  Hesiod, Theogony

                     (Web: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/hesiod-theogony-ex.html)

                  Plato, Timaeus (To be distributed in class on 9/19.)

                  Review Kosso, pp. 14-15 (“Empires in Greece and Macedon: Locate and Label”)

 

09/29   Peer Review Session

Complete draft of 1st take-home essay due at beginning of class.

Final draft will be due at the start of class on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

 

 

Part II: Politics & Religion

 

10/01   Defining Political Power

Final draft of 1st take-home essay due at beginning of class.

Bring Wiesner text to class!!

 

10/03   The Image of Power

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 43-77

 

10/06   The Power of the Law

Reading:   Code of Hammurabi (TBA)

 

10/08   Imperial China

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 164-168

 

 

10/10   The Roman Empire of the Mediterranean

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 168-174

                  Wiesner, pp. 78-84

                  Review Kosso, pp. 19-21 (“Rome and Its Empire: Locate and Label”)

 

10/13   The Power of Empire

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 85-110

 

10/15   Buddhism

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 176-184

 

10/17   Christianity

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 184-199

                  Begin Kosso, pp. 47-49 (“New Patterns in the Mediterranean and the Near East: Locate and Label”)

 

10/20   Islam

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 199-213

                  Wiesner, pp. 111-115

                  Finish Kosso, pp. 47-49

 

10/22   Comparing Buddhism, Christianity & Islam

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 116-142

 

10/24   Fall Break – Class Holiday

 

10/27   Understanding Holy War

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 184-190

 

10/29   Comparing Holy War in the Muslim & Islamic Worlds

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 191-206

 

10/31   Midterm Review

 

11/03   Midterm

 

 

A Romantic Interlude

 

11/05   Romance in Japan

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 207-224

 

11/07   Romance in Italy & England

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 224-234

                  Chaucer, “Wife of Bath Prologue” & “Wife of Bath Tale,” The Canterbury Tales

                                    (Web: http://www.vt.edu/vt98/academics/books/chaucer/ChaucerIndex.html)

 

 

Part III: Health, Commerce, & Urban Life

 

11/10   Science & Medicine in the Middle Ages

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 358-361

 

11/12   The Plague & Its Spread

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 235-243

 

11/14   Cultural Reactions to the Plague

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 243-269

 

11/17   Medicine & Reproduction

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 334-344

 

11/19   Making Sense of Reproduction

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 345-362

 

11/21   Peer Review Session

Complete draft of 2nd take-home essay due at beginning of class.

Final draft will be due at the start of class on Monday, Nov. 14.

 

11/24   The Emergence of World Systems in the Middle Ages

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 398-433

Final draft of 2nd take-home essay due at beginning of class.

 

 

11/26 – 11/28

Thanksgiving Holiday

Enjoy reading a good book!

 

 

12/01   The Asian World System

Reading:   Goucher, pp. 438-481

                  Wiesner, pp. 270-277

 

12/03   Travel & Trade in the Asian World System

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 277-301

 

12/05   Cities & Urban Life in the Middle Ages

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 302-309

 

12/08   Constantinople & Tenochtitlán

Reading:   Wiesner, pp. 309-333

 

 

Final Exam

Wednesday, December 10

12 noon – 2:30 pm

Bring One 8½ x 11 Inch Blue Book