Instructor: Dr. Scott S. Reese
Office: Admin. Building 212 rm.5
Phone:485-5275 email: sreese@xula.edu
Office hrs. MW 1-3:30pm TR8:00-10:00 or by appointment
Syllabus URL: http://xavier.xula.edu/~sreese/1030.htm
| Class time and Room |
| 1030.02 MWF 09-09:50 Rm.101B Admin |
| 1030.05 MWF 10-10:50 Rm. 101B Admin |
All the above texts can be purchased at the University Bookstore
located in Xavier “South”. Students are expected to bring all required
readings to class during the week assigned (you are responsible for following
the syllabus, I will not remind you). Additional readings indicated below
are on reserve in the library.
This link http://home1.gte.net/mcorphan/bookstores.html#Big
contains links to about a dozen on-line booksellers!! Or try ecampus.com
they have free shipping!!!
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Course Description
and Purpose
This course introduces you to the development of world
civilizations and cultures from the ancient world to the dawn of, what
is often called, the “early modern” era. This is not a course
preoccupied with names and dates (although, that does not mean they are
irrelevant. And you will be required on occasion to know them). Instead,
it concentrates on the story within history and the lives of human beings
from various cultures and societies across time. Societies and cultures
rarely develop in isolation and thus this course will focus on the interactions
between peoples which have helped shape the world we live in today.
Obviously, it would be impossible to examine every civilization since the
“dawn of time”, thus we will approach the course using a series of case
studies which will help to illustrate the evolution of the world we know
today. The first part of the course will be dedicated to an examination
of ancient Egypt and other societies of the Mediterranean and Africa and
their role in shaping the ancient world. The second segment of our
class will be given over to the rise of Islam and its place as a trans-cultural
movement spread across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. Finally, we will
look at the interplay between Muslims and the non-Muslim world during the
middle ages.
Course Objectives:
In addition to increasing your knowledge of our past, this course
will also give you the opportunity to develop and utilize various skills
-- especially regarding analytical thought and writing-- which will be
valuable throughout your university career and beyond. These
include:
Course Requirements:
1) Quizzes
Several short quizzes--
announced and unannounced -- covering the assigned readings for a given
week. Arriving late to class will mean missing a quiz, for which
there is absolutely no make-up. Medical documentation will not be
accepted as an excuse for missing a quiz. Your lowest quiz grade for the
term will be dropped; one quiz missed for medical reasons will therefore
not harm your overall course grade.
2) Two (2) 50 minute exams
Each exam will consist of
short response and essay questions based on readings and class notes.
Essays must demonstrate a grasp of the historical material and be expressed
in your own words. Repetition of memorized passages from the textbook
is plagiarism and will result in a failing mark for the entire exam.
Exams, if missed, may be made-up only for documented medical or grave personal
reasons. NO DOCUMENTATION=NO MAKE-UP!!
3) One (1) Primary Document Assignments (500-700 words)
During the course of the semester you will
be asked to write one (1) brief paper based on a small set of primary documents
provided by the instructor. The papers must be 500-700 words, typewritten
(double-spaced with one inch margins and font no larger than 12- point).
Late papers will lose one full letter grade per day late (This means 10
percentage points. i.e. if you recieve and 90% but turn your paper in a
day late the grade will drop to 80%). NO EXCEPTIONS.
Make and retain a copy of your essay before handing it in-- the instructor is not responsible for “lost” papers. (Also, back-up all computer work on at least 2 separate disks—a disk crash or virus is not a valid excuse for lateness).
4) One (1) Analytical Essay (700-1000 words.)
While exams are designed to test your knowledge
of the course material this essay is intended to hone your ability to analyze
primary historical sources based on questions relating to the supplementary
text Tales from a Thousand and One Nights. The essay will be 700-1000
words in length (double-spaced with one inch margins and font no larger
than 12 point). Essay topics and a criteria sheet will be handed out one
week in advance of the paper due date. Again, late papers will lose
one full letter grade per day.
5) Class participation and discussion
Each week as much as one
whole class meeting will be given over to class discussion of the material
then being covered. Activities during this time will vary including
class “open-forums” and small group exercises. Active participation in
these activities is mandatory. All students must come having read
the material and ready to engage in meaningful dialogue (just showing up
is not sufficient). On occasion these activities will be announced,
often they will not. Excessive or continual tardiness may also adversely
effect you participation grade. This constitutes ½ of your participation
grade. The moral of the story, always come to class on time and prepared.
6) Attendance
Regular class attendance
is required by the University. In accordance with University policy,
more than six absences in a MWF or four absences in a TR section, will
result in a failing grade of FE, for which NO WARNING is given. An attendance
sheet will be passed around during each class, however, you are responsible
for keeping track of your absences. If you are not certain how many
classes you've missed, its probably too many.
Written medical excuses do not provide exceptions to this rule. Students who arrive late will not be recorded as present and anyone who leaves class early without prior permission of the instructor will be counted as absent for the day. Three to five absences in a MWF section or two to three absences in a TR section will lead to a low class participation grade when the final course grade is assessed.The rationale for this is, if you are not here you cannot participate.
7) Final Examination
The final exam must
be taken to pass the course. University W$ policies will be strictly enforced
(No clearance card. No exam.) Final exams will be:
| 1030.02 Thursday Dec. 14 10:30am |
| 1030.05 Monday Dec. 11 10:30am |
(The final exam must be taken with your assigned section. Plan your holiday travels accordingly!!)
Evaluation/Grade Distribution
Your course grades will be based on the following distribution:
| Mid-term Grade | Final Grade |
| Quizzes 5% | Quizzes 5% |
| Writing assign. 25% | Primary doc. assign. 15% |
| 1st exam 50% | Essay 20% |
| Part. & Attend 20% | 2 exams 30% |
| Part. & Attend. 10% | |
| Final exam 20% |
Failing to complete any major component of the course will seriously jeopardize one’s ability to pass the course.
Note: University standards against plagiarism and cheating will be strictly upheld. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying, paraphrasing, or summarizing the work of another (including a fellow student) without proper acknowledgment. ANY course work found to have been dishonestly completed will result in a failing grade for the course.
Wk1 Aug. 28-Sept. 1
Introduction and Overview
Human Pre-History
Readings:
D/S1 pp.xxx-xxxi, 1-14
Andrea docs. 1, 2
If you are unable to obtain Andrea and Overfield look at the following
web page
Hammurabi
text(http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/hammurabi.htm)
Wk2 Sept. 4-8 (Mon. no class)
Ancient Africa and the Nile Valley
Film: Different But Equal (if time permits)
Readings:
D/S1 remainder
Newsweek articles “Was Cleopatra Black” (Sept. 23, 1991)
O’Connor Reserve
Andrea docs. #3,4
Wk3 Sept. 11-15
Kush and Meroe
Axum
Readings:
D/S8 pp217-222
Marcus Ch 1 (Reserve)
Wk 4 18-22
Arabian Kingdoms
Readings:
D/S 7
Primary Document Assignment and inscriptions
Part II The Rise of the Islamic World
Wk5 Sept 25-29
The Prophet and the Rise of Islam
Readings: Lapidus 1-54 Reserve
Primary Document Assignment Due Sept. 29
Wk6 Oct. 2-6
1st mid-term
The Arab Conquests
The Caliphate and 1st Islamic Empire
Readings:
Lapidus 1-54 cont.
Andrea docs. #63,64
Wk 7 Oct. 9-13
The Arab Conquests
North Africa and the Berbers
Readings: D/S 7 cont.
Essay Due
Wk 8 Oct. 16-20
The Spread of Islam in Africa
Ghana, Mali and Songhay
Readings:(cont. for wk 9)
D/S8 pp271-290
Boahan, “Kingdoms of West Africa” Reserve
Andrea docs. #62,94,108
Wk9 Oct. 23-27
Sudanic Africa cont.
Part III Muslim and the Non-Muslim World
Wk10 Oct. 30- Nov. 3
2nd Mid-term
Islam in South Asia -- The Delhi Sultans
D/S 2, 9 (pp.293-314)
Andrea docs., 78, 79
Wk11 Nov. 6-10
Islam and Europe
The Crusades
Readings:
D/S 12
Andrea docs. 76,91,92
Wk 12 Nov. 13-17
Learning, Science and Medicine
Readings:
D/S12
Wk 13 Nov. 20-24 (Thanksgiving no class WRF)
The rise of Europe
D/S13
"The
expulsion from Spain"
(http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1492-jews-spain1.html)
Wk 14 Nov. 27- Dec. 1
The rise of Europe cont.
D/S13 cont.
Wk 15 Dec. 4-8
European expansion and exploration
Wrap up and review