Professor Elizabeth Sherman
Office Hours: MWF 12:00-1:00
HIST111 05
Origins of the Modern World to 1500
Texts
Bentley, Traditions and Encounters: Brief Global History, Vol. I, 8th ed.
Parker, Meridians: Sources in World History, 1st ed.
Description of Course
This course will take a historical approach to examining the development of the modern world to the year 1500. The course will cover ancient civilizations up to the Age of Exploration with an emphasis on the interactions between peoples of the world and their relation to each other.
How to Succeed
While attendance will not be mandatory, the best plan for success is to attend lecture and take thorough notes. Lecture outlines and PowerPoint slides will not be made available, and the material covered in class will be invaluable for quizzes, exams, and writing assignments. If you should miss a class, it is your responsibility to collect notes from a classmate. A daily sheet of important terms will be given out at the beginning of class. It should help guide note-taking and studying. This sheet will only be available in lecture on the day it is given out. It is easy to get behind in reading in a history course—try to read each assignment before the day we cover the topic, as you will be more familiar with the issues when they are covered in lecture.
Academic Honesty
Please familiarize yourself with the university’s policy on academic honesty. This course will follow the guidelines set by the school in regards to such issues as cheating and plagiarism. If a student is found guilty of an academic honesty violation, sanctions can include failure for the assignment or the course depending on the violation.
Grade Breakdown
Map quizzes (5): 10%
ID quizzes (4): 20%
Writing assignments (2): 30%
Midterm exam: 20%
Final exam: 20%
Grade Scale
100-94 A 79-77 C+
93-90 A- 76-74 C
89-87 B+ 73-70 C-
86-84 B 69-60 D
83-80 B- 59-0 F
Attendance Policy
Attendance is not mandatory, however it is highly recommended for success in the class, especially since material will be covered that is not included in your text. Missed quizzes and exams cannot be made up without a doctor’s note, which must be provided within the week of your return to classes; make-ups must occur within a week of the excuse. Should I need to contact you for any other reason, I will do so using your SLU e-mail; please make sure your mailbox isn’t full and check your mailbox regularly.
Writing Assignments
You will write two short papers (3 to 4 pages). Three writing assignments appear on the schedule and you may choose which two to write on. These papers will respond to sources assigned and discussed in class. Papers must be turned in to me during class on the due date. They may not be e-mailed. Late papers are not accepted. In case of illness, arrangements can be made pending a doctor’s note; the policy for doctor’s notes follows the above guidelines. Further instructions will follow.
Identification Quizzes
These quizzes will require mastery of basic information about key terms such as who/what, where, when, and an understanding of the importance of the term. The terms will be drawn from the daily sheets handed out in class. Answers should be given in short answer format.
Exams
The midterm and final are equally weighted and the final won’t be cumulative. These exams will test the mastery of terms and your understanding of the connections between different cultures. Format could include multiple choice, fill in the blank, and matching. In case of a time conflict for the final, contact me by the week after midterms about approval for a make-up.
Schedule
Week One:
Aug 25—Introduction
Aug 27—Ch 1: The Foundations of Complex Societies; Mesopotamia
Aug 29—Ch 1& 2: Hebrews, Phoenicians & Egypt
Week Two:
Sept 1—Labor Day; NO CLASS
Sept 3— Ch 2 & 3: Early Societies in Africa & India
Sept 5—Last day to drop without a “W”; Map Quiz #1; Ch 5: Classical Persian Empire
Week Three:
Sept 8— Ch 3: Early Chinese Society; Ch 6: Classical China
Sept 10— Ch 7: Classical India
Sept 12—Ch 8: Classical Greece
Week Four:
Sept 15— Map Quiz #2; Ch 8: Classical Greece
Sept 17—Ch 8: Classical Greece
Sept 19— Ch 8: Classical Rome
Week Five:
Sept 22—ID Quiz #1; Ch 8 & 9: Classical Rome
Sept 24— Foundations of Christianity
Sept 26—Writing Assignment Due
Week Six:
Sept 29— Foundations of Christianity
Oct 1— Fall of Rome
Oct 3—Map Quiz #3; Ch 9: The Silk Road
Week Seven:
Oct 6— Ch 10: Byzantium
Oct 8— Ch 11: The Prophet & Islam
Oct 10—ID Quiz #2; Ch 11: Expansion of Islam
Week Eight:
Oct 13— Ch 12: Chinese Empire
Oct 15—MIDTERM EXAM
Oct 17—NO CLASS
Week Nine:
Oct 20—Fall Break; NO CLASS
Oct 22— Ch 13: Islamic & Hindu Empires
Oct 24—Ch 14: Early Medieval Society
Week Ten:
Oct 27— Writing Assignment Due
Oct 29— Ch 14: Early Medieval Society
Oct 31—Last day to withdraw; Map Quiz #4; Ch 14: Early Medieval Society
Week Eleven:
Nov 3— Ch 16 Sub-Saharan Africa
Nov 5— Ch 15: The Mongols
Nov 7—ID Quiz #3; Ch 17: High Middle Ages
Week Twelve:
Nov 10— Ch 17: High Middle Ages
Nov 12— Ch 17: High Middle Ages
Nov 14— The Late Middle Ages
Week Thirteen:
Nov 17— The Late Middle Ages
Nov 19— The Late Middle Ages
Nov 21—Map Quiz #5; The Renaissance
Week Fourteen:
Nov 24—Writing Assignment Due
Nov 26 & Nov 28—Thanksgiving; NO CLASS
Week Fifteen:
Dec 1— Ch 4: Early Societies in the Americas
Dec 3—ID Quiz #4; Ch 18: The Americas
Dec 5— Ch 19: Exploration & Colonization
Week Sixteen:
Dec 8—Last day of class; Ch 19: Exploration & Colonization
Dec 12—FINAL EXAM: Friday 12:00-1:50