– History of Western
Civilization I – HIS 101- Spring 2008 –
Professor
Susan G. Thompson
Section 1, MWF, 8:30 – 9:35 MC437
Office:
Phone:
216-687-3926
Office Hours:
MW 9:45 – 10:45 and by appointment
Email: s.g.thompson@csuohio.edu
Course textbook: Jackson J. Spielvogel, Western
Civilization: A Brief History Volume 1: to 1715, 4th
edition.
Overview: This
course follows the history of Western civilization in a general survey from
the earliest written records to the seventeenth century. It focuses on social and cultural events as
well as more traditional political happenings.
This 
class
also concentrates on the interaction between Europeans and those in the rest
of the world through the examination and interpretation of primary source
documentation. In addition to gaining
an appreciation for the history of diverse cultures, students will also learn
to chart historic trends and ideas, to think and read critically, to interpret
primary evidence, and to write essays.
Evaluation:
Course grades will be determined by four exams, three midterms and a
final, worth 50 points each, periodic quizzes and various in-class projects and
writing assignments worth 10 points each.
All points possible will be divided up on a ten-point scale for the
final grade. 100-90% = A, 80-89% = B,
70-79% = C, and so on.
Exams: The mid-term exams and the final exam will
consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. I am willing to devote a portion of class
time immediately prior to the exams for recap and review of the material,
provided there is student participation and interest. Dates for the exams are listed on the course
schedule. Make-up examinations will be given only to those students who have 1)an official, documented excuse and 2)who have informed me
of their absence prior to the scheduled exam.
Note: Few students who
have requested make-up exams have met the above criteria, and all make-ups are
at my discretion.
Quizzes:
At various times throughout the term we will have quizzes based on the
text chapters, including the primary source materials and lecture. Quizzes are unannounced and random so that 1)
you will attend class, and 2) you will become familiar with materials in the
textbook. I will not give quizzes to those who missed class that day, nor will I
accept late quizzes. Keeping up with
the reading assignments listed on the syllabus will ensure that you can use
these quizzes to gain easy points over the term. One quiz can be missed without affecting your
grade.
Expectations:
Please be on time, refrain from talking to classmates during lectures, turn
off cell phones upon entering the lecture hall and be courteous to others in
class. Our textbook is called “A Brief History” because it provides the basic
facts associated with historic phenomena.
It is designed to supplement lectures, not replace them. I do expect participation from students, when
requested. If your grade is on the
border between two letters, I usually “bump up” the grade of students who have
participated by offering substantive responses and asking interesting and
thoughtful questions. It is easier for
me to assign mental bonus points for your participation if I know who you are. Please take the time to introduce yourself to
me personally either after class or during my office hours.
Help in the course:
In addition to help that is available from me (see my office hours
above), the History Department has a tutoring center located in
Course Notes: Outlines of lecture topics and important terms from class
can be located on the web at www.csuohio.edu/history/. Once there, click on “web enhanced courses”
and click on our course (Thompson, History 101). Once the syllabus appears you can scroll down
to the course schedule portion and click on each week to get the note outlines
and important terms. This information
will help you understand what to study if you miss a class. You may still need
to visit me to review the terms and concepts
COURSE SCHEDULE for History 101, Spring
2008
Section I: The Ancient World
Week
1: 1/14–1/18
Introduction and Neolithic Revolution
Have read: Spielvogel text, chapter 1, section 1
Week
2: 1/21–1/25 Mesopotamia and Ancient
Spielvogel
text, chapter 1, sections 2 & 3
**No Class1/21 Martin
Luther King Jr. Day
Week
3: 1/28 - 2/1
Text, chapter 2
Week
4: 2/4 – 2/8 Myths of the Ancient World
2/6 Summarize and review
**2/8 EXAM 1 on Ancient Civilizations,
chapters 1 & 2 including the primary sources in the Spielvogel
text
Section 2: Classical Civilizations
Week
5: 2/11-2/15 Classical civilizations – Ancient
and Classical Greece
Text, chapter 3
Week
6: 2/18-2/22 Hellenistic
Classical
Civilizations –
Text, chapters 4
& 5
**No Class 2/18
Presidents’ Day
Week
7: 2/25-2/29
Rise of Christianity
Text, chapters 6 & 7
Week 8: 3/3- 3/7 Fall
of
**3/7 EXAM
2 on Classical civilizations, chapters 3-7 including primary sources in the
Spielvogel text
Week 9: 3/10 – 3/14 No School at CSU – Have a nice
Spring Break
Section 3: The
Middle Ages
Week 10: 3/17-3/21 Europe
and the Middle East after the Fall of
Text, chapter 8 through section 2
Week 11: 3/24-3/28 Early and High Middle
Ages
Text, rest of chapter
8 and chapters 9 & 10
**note 3/28 is last
day to withdraw (8 p.m.)
Week 12: 3/31-4/4 The
High Middle Ages and Crisis of the 14th C. Text, chapter 10 & 11
through section 3
**4/4 EXAM 3 on the Middle Ages, chapters 8-11 including primary sources
in the Spielvogel text
Section 4: Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern
Week 13: 4/7-4/11
Origins of the Renaissance and Humanism
Text, chapters 11 and
12 through section 4
Week 14: 4/14-4/18 Northern
Renaissance and Reformation
Text, chapters 12 and
13 through section 2
Week 15: 4/21-4/25 Sixteenth
century
Text, chapters 13 and
14 through section 1
Week 16: 4/28-5/2 Seventeenth
century
Text, chapter 16
FINAL EXAM SECTION 1 – MONDAY, MAY 5th
8:30-10:30 am
FINAL EXAM SECTION 2 – FRIDAY, MAY 9th
8:30-10:30 am