Syllabus
Fall 2011 |
|
HIST 110.02 - Western Civilization I |
Prof. Jarbel Rodriguez |
MWF 11:10 - 12:00 |
Office: SCI 267 A |
Classroom: HSS 317 |
e-mail: jarbel@sfsu.edu |
Office Hours: M 12-1; W 2-4; or by appt. |
Phone: (415) 338-1560 |
For a printable copy of the syllabus, click here.
This course is a survey of Western Civilization from about 7,000,000 BC to 1500 AD. In other words, we are going to be covering a lot of territory and time, which means that we will not be able to devote large blocks of time to every single historical era, issue, and/or region. As a result of covering so much material, you are expected to keep up with the readings as they are assigned. This will help you better understand the lectures and get more out of the course. The readings will supplement class lectures, but not replace them. You will not be able to pass the exams by simply reading the books. You must show up for class.
Goals
Gain an understanding of Western Civilization
Gain an understanding of how historians work and how they use sources
Learn how to craft and support a historical argument
Required Books
Textbook
Frank Kidner, et al. Making Europe: People, Politics, and Culture Vol. I to 1790 ( Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009)
Primary Sources
Andrew George, trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian (Penguin, 2000)
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars trans. by Robert Graves (Penguin, 1991)
Seamus Heaney, Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (W. Norton, 2001)
Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron trans. by G.H. McWilliam (Penguin, 1996)
Assignments
Two Midterms and One Final Exam (not cumulative): All will follow the same format, 15 Multiple-choice questions / 15 identifications and an essay. Do not be late for exams. You will not be allowed to start the exam if another student has already finished. Do not miss exams. Making up an exam is a lot of extra work for me, so there has to be a very good reason on your part (severe illness, death in the family, wrongful incarceration, etc.)
4 Quizzes on the Primary Source Readings. You will be quizzed on the primary sources, which you should have read by the day that we discuss them in class. If you miss a quiz you can make it up by writing a three-page summary of the reading. There will be no penalty if you have a valid, written excuse for being absent. If you do not have a valid excuse, there will be a 20% penalty. You have one week from the date the quiz was given to turn in the summary.
Grade Breakdown
Quizzes on Primary Sources: 20% (5% each)
First Exam: 25%
Second Exam: 25%
Final Exam: 30%
[KEEP TRACK OF YOUR GRADES USING THE GRADE CALCULATOR]
Escape Clause
This syllabus and schedule are subject to change in the event of unforeseen circumstances. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check on announcements made while you were absent.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of improving one’s grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include assisting another to do so. Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating which consists of the misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of others by misrepresenting the material so used as one’s own work. It includes “borrowing” ideas and quotations from books, articles, and websites. If you’re not sure about something, double check with me. Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism is not a defense against it. Cheating and/or plagiarism will result in a 0 in the assignment and could result in expulsion from the University. For more on the University’s policy regarding cheating and plagiarism, refer to the University Catalog (Policies and Regulations).
Disability Statement Policy
Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the instructor. The Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) is available to facilitate the reasonable accommodations process. The DPRC is located in the Student Service Building and can be reached by telephone (voice/TTY 415-338-2472) or by email (dprc@sfsu.edu).
Weekly Readings and Assignments
Week 1 (8/24 – 8/26)
The Origins of Civilization
Kidner et al., xvii-xxi, 4-11
Week 2 (8/29 – 9/2)
Egypt and Mesopotamia
Kidner et al., 11-31
9/2: NO CLASS
Week 3 (9/5 – 9/9)
Ancient Near East Civilizations
Kidner et al., 32-51
9/5: NO CLASS / LABOR DAY
9/7: Quiz and Class Discussion on The Epic of Gilgamesh
Week 4 (9/12 – 9/16)
Persia and Early Greece
Kidner et al., 51-80
Week 5 (9/19 – 9/23)
Hellenistic Greece
Kidner et al., 80-102
Week 6 (9/27 – 10/1)
Greek Life
Kidner et al., 102-113
9/30: FIRST EXAM (Covers all lectures up to 9/28 and chs. 1-4)
Week 7 (10/3 – 10/7)
Rome: From Republic to Empire
Kidner et al., 114-145
10/6: Quiz and Class Discussion on The Twelve Caesars (sections on Augustus, Gaius (Caligula) and Nero.)
Week 8 (10/10 – 10/14)
The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity
Kidner et al., 145-181
182-203
Week 9 (10/17 – 10/21)
The Heirs of Rome – Byzantium and Islam
Kidner, et al. 182-233
Week 10 (10/24 – 10/28)
The Heirs of Rome – Germanic Europe
Kidner et al. 234-248
10/26: Quiz and Class Discussion on Beowulf (read the whole poem).
Week 11 (10/31 – 11/4)
Decline and Recovery
Kidner et al., 249-261
11/4: SECOND EXAM (Covers lectures between 10/3 & 11/2 and chs. 5-9)
Week 12 (11/7 – 11/11)
Church Reform and Crusades
Kidner et al. 262-277
Week 13 (11/14 – 11/18 )
The Rise of the States and Medieval Culture
Kidner et al. 277-291
Week 14 (11/21 – 11/25)
No Class – Fall Recess
Week 15 (11/28 – 12/2)
The Medieval World in Crisis
Kidner et al. 292-321
Week 16 (12/5 – 12/9)
Renaissance
Kidner et al. 322-342
12/7:Quiz and Class Discussion on the Decameron, Introduction; I: 1, 2; II: 3, 9; III: 1, 2, 10; IV: 5; VI: 7, 10; VII: 2; VIII: 1; IX: 3
Week 17 (12/12 – 12/14)
12/14: FINAL EXAM IN HSS 317 10:45 – 1:15 (Covers lectures between 11/7 and 12/12 and chs. 9-12)
IMPORTANT DEADLINES FOR FALL SEMESTER 2011