Course Title: History 4
California State University, Sacramento
Dr. S. Joan Moon
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Spring 1999
Hours: TR: 10-10:30; W: 5:15-6:00and by appointment G.
E. C1
joanmoon@csus.edu
SURVEY OF EARLY WESTERN CIVILIZATION
A. Course Description and Objectives
This is an introductory course in the history of Western Civilization from the pre-historic period through the Middle Ages. The objectives of the course are 1) to acquaint students with the major ancient societies--their similarities and differences as well as their continuities and changes; 2) to encourage critical analysis; and 3) to introduce students to the methods of history--how historians analyze primary documents and develop interpretations. 3 units
B. Required Books
- Bradley, K. R., SLAVES AND MASTERS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
- Duby, G., WILLIAM MARSHAL, FLOWER OF CHIVALRY
- McKay, J., Hill, B., and Buckler, J., eds., A HISTORY OF WESTERN SOCIETY, Vol. A: From Antiquity through the Late Middle Age, 6th ed.
- Perry, M., Peden, J., and von Laue, T., eds., SOURCES OF THE WESTERN TRADITION, Vol. I: From Ancient Times to the Enlightenment, 4th ed.
- Moon, J. "History 4: A Survival Guide"
C. Course Requirements and
Grading
Two 75 minute exams, l00 pts each 200 pts
One 30 minute quiz 50 pts
Final exam 100 pts
Discussions, 25 pts each 50 pts
Total 400 pts
Perry Assignments
Optional projects
The final grade will be calculated as follows: Divide total points by 4.0 (plus any additional points from the Perry assignments and optional projects and minus and deductions):
A=92-100; A-=90-91; B+=88-89; B=82-87; B-=80-81; C+=78-79; C=72-77; C-=70-71; D+=68-69; D=62-68; D-=60-61; F=59 and below.
D. Explanations
- Attendance: It is important that you attend class to
understand the lectures and the discussions on the
primary sources; therefore, attendance is required.
You may miss three
sessions without penalty. Each unexcused absence after
that will result in a ten-point deduction from your total
points.
- Reading assignments:
Students should read the assignments and review the
lecture outlines in the survival guide before the class
lectures. Bring the survival
guide to class. The assignments in Perry will
be analyzed in class.
Bring the Perry book to
class.
- The exams and quiz
may be a combination of multiple choice, short answer,
and essay questions. They will be based upon lectures and
all reading assignments. Make-up
exams will be given only in exceptional
circumstances.
- Bradley and Duby: There will be class discussions
of the Bradley and Duby books based upon questions handed
out by the instructor. Students are required to attend the two
discussions and to submit typed
answers to the study questions on the day of
the discussion. No late answers
will be accepted.
- Perry Assignments:
Students are required to
type out the answers to the questions in the Survival
guide on a separate sheet of paper. During the semester,
I will periodically collect your answers, but I will not
announce the dates. Each assignment completed and
collected will be worth an extra ten points on your final
total. If you are absent on a day I collect the
assignment, you may not make
it up. To discusss the
questions in Perry, the class will be divided into eight
groups of approximately five students. Each group will be
responsible for two assignments during the semester. On
the assigned date, members of the group will discuss
their answers with the rest of the class.
- Optional Assignments (See Attached List): Each project is worth five to ten points added to your total points to a maximum of 50 points. The projects must be turned in on the date assigned. No late projects will be acccepted.
E. Topics and Assignments (N.B. Dates may vary from the following schedule. Changes will be announced in class.) Note: # refers to document number in all classes.
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2/2 |
Introduction; From pre-history to history |
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2/4, 9 |
Mesopotamia and the Hittites |
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2/11 |
Egypt |
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2/16 |
Egypt, cont.; Minoan and Mycenaean
Societies |
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2/18, 23 |
Egypt, the Hebrews, Assyria |
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2/25, 3/2 |
Persia, the Early Greeks |
3/4 FIRST EXAMINATION: PRE-HISTORY, I-II
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3/9 |
Classical Greece: Military and Political. |
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3/11 |
Classical Greece: History and Drama |
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3/16 |
Classical Greece: Philosophy and Society |
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3/18 |
Hellenistic World
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3/23 QUIZ, III
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3/23, 25
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The Republic |
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4/6 |
From Republic to Empire |
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4/8 |
The Rise of Christianity |
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4/13, 15 |
The Later Empire and the Spread of
Christianity |
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4/20, 22, 27 |
Byzantine, Islamic, and Frankish
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4/29 SECOND EXAM: IV-V
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5/4 |
Feudal Society |
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5/6 |
The Urban Revival; Secular and Religious
Disputes |
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5/11 |
Popular Spirituality |
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5/13 |
Feudal Conflicts |
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5/18 |
Plagues, Popes, and Popular Religion |
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5/20 |
Political, Social, and Cultural Aspects |
5/27 FINAL EXAMINATION, VI-VII
Optional Projects: Optional
projects are worth 10 points unless noted. They will be
added to your total points to a maximum of 50 points. Your
project answers, for the most part, must demonstrate an
understanding of the readings and the cultures. For example,
Gilgamesh's T-shirt could not possibly state "My reward will
be in heaven." If you have questions, please consult me.
1. Design a T-shirt, slogan required but graphics optional, for Gilgamesh. 5 pts.
2. Take a virtual tour of the Great Pyramid and describe it.
3. Take a virtual tour of the Minoan palace at Knossos and describe it.
4. Take a virtual tour of the Acropolis and describe it.
5. Compose epitaphs (memoral inscriptions) for the tombstones of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. 5 pts.
6. As a Roman matron, write a reply to Cato.
7. Describe the various parts of Roman armor.
8. Write a short dialogue* between a pagan and a Christian.
9. Write a short dialogue* between a Roman slave and a Medieval serf.
10.Design a T-shirt, slogan rquired but graphics optional, for a knight of the First Crusade. 5 pts.
11. As a late Medieval woman, defend yourself against the opinions of Sprenger and Kramer.
*Short dialogue means about one page, single-spaced.
DEPARTMENT / CSUS