World History before 1500

requirements:
 

discussions (20%) (attendance will be taken only in discussion)

two tests ( 25%, 30%) (mostly essay, some identification)

paper of 4-6 pages (25%) (please take freshman English)


texts:
 

W. J. Duiker and J. J. Spielvogel World History (vol. I: to 1800)

Supplementary readings from the great books of various civilizations (see below)

Students are REQUIRED to read all texts when assigned. Without reading texts on time one cannot participate meaningfully in discussion sestions. Without meaningful participation in discussions, students' grades will suffer.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:




(1) to give students an understanding and appreciation of how different civilizations have evolved in the world, and how different modes of thought have become characteristic of those civilizations. The course will try to familiarize students not only with the outstanding events and personalities of world history, but with the different ways of life and thought that have developed in different areas of the world.
 

(2) Students should also understand what various cultures have in common with each other, and how they have often come up with similar solutions to similar problems.
 

(3) to help students understand the accumulation and interaction of various forms of knowledge and the causes of the rise and decline of various civilizations.
 

Emphasis will be both on mastery of the facts of world history and on the students' abilities to think critically about various cultural and philosophical traditions. Thus the ability to think critically, especially the ability to understand the consequences of and connections between various aspects of different societies, is indispensable to this course. The various ethical and civic traditions of different societies will be looked at. Students will also be asked to consider how different human societies have impacted on their environments, and what effects this has had on human history. Students will be expected to be able to express their ideas well, and to exchange ideas with others, forming new ideas in the process.

READINGS

The textbook authors are experts on the history of Asia and Europe. The instructor is a specialist on the history of Africa, making for complementary Old World coverage.

Week 1 - The "cradle of civilization"

readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 1

The Bible (Genesis 1-9)

Week 2 - Ancient India
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 2
selections from:
The Bhagavad Gita and
Early Buddhist Tradition
Week 3 - Ancient China
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 3
selections from:
Tao Te Ching and
Confucius (chapter IV, pp. 135-151)
Week 4 - Ancient Greece
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 4
Plato's version of Socrates' Apology
Week 5 - Ancient Rome
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 5
The Gospel According to Matthew ch. 5-7
Week 6 - Ancient Africa
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 8
Week 7 - Civilization in the Americas
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 6


 MIDTERM TEST - (the ancient world)

Week 8 - Medieval Islam

readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 7
selections from the Qur'an (Koran)
Week 9 - Medieval Europe: the "Dark" and "High Middle" Ages
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 12

Aquinas Summa Theologia question 3

Week 10 - Medieval India
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 9

Mahayana Buddhist Texts

Week 11 - Medieval China
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 10
Week 12 - Medieval Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 11

Marco Polo's account of Japan

Week 13 - late Medieval Europe: on the verge of modernity
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 13

To be announced

Week 14 - The emergence of Western domination
readings - Duiker and Spielvogel chapter 14

To be announced

PAPER DUE

Week 15 - review for final exam

FINAL EXAM - (everything from the midterm)