Course Number: HIST 2311 SPRING 2017 COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: WESTERN CIVILIZATION I
Course Description: A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, religious, and
intellectual history of Europe and the Mediterranean world from human origins to the 17th
century. Themes that should be addressed in Western Civilization I include the cultural legacies
of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, Islamic civilizations, and Europe through the
Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformations.
Course Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Prerequisite: Meet TSI college-readiness standard for English; or equivalent.
State-mandated Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, and cultural forces on this period
of western history.
Withdrawal policy: Withdrawal from a course is a formal procedure that is the responsibility
of the student to initiate. The last day to drop with a "W" is March 17.
Beginning Fall 2016, Texas residents attempting a course more than twice at Collin College are subject to regular tuition plus an additional $50 per semester credit hour. Please see the “Repeating Courses” section of the Fall 2016 Registration Guide for more information.
Collin College Academic Policies: See the current Collin Student Handbook, especially
regarding academic ethics. Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain
the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings
against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited
to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree,
and/or the submission of one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may
involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of
annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic
medium, and/or falsifying academic records. Students in violation of this policy will receive a "0"
for the assignment or exam and will be reported to the Dean of Students Office.
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement: Collin College will adhere to all applicable federal,
state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations
as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the
ACCESS office, SCC-D140 or 972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) to arrange for appropriate
accommodation. See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor's Name: Joan Jenkins, Ph.D.
Office Number: L 211 Spring Creek Campus
Office Hours: MW 11:45-1:00, TR 9:45-11:30 and by appointment
Phone Number: 972.881.5829
Email:
Web page:
Use your cougarmail account to communicate with me. In the event of inclement weather, keep up with the assignments on the calendar and watch for updates from me on cougarmail. Registration with CougarAlert is recommended.
Class information:
Section Number: .S01
Meeting Times: MW 1:00-2:15
Meeting Location: Room I 202
Course Resources: 2 textbooks
Levack, Brian, et al. The West: Encounters & Transformations, vol. 1, 5th ed.
Boston: Pearson, 2017.
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-426028-0
Perry, et al. Sources of the Western Tradition, vol.1, 9th ed.
New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006.
ISBN: 978-0-495-91320-7
Ereserve readings (accessible through the Ereserve link on the course web page)
Unit study sheets and outlines (accessible through the course web page)
Supplies:
- pen and notebook for class note-taking
- pencil, pen, mini-essay books (3) for exams (turned in to me before the first exam)
Attendance policy: Attendance in this course is the responsibility of the student. You are
expected to attend the classes in which you are enrolled. You are responsible for the material,
discussion, etc., that is covered in every class. Please do not call or email me for information or
assignments, if you are absent (unless, of course, it is an exceptional case). I recommend that you
make a class contact in the event of unforeseen/emergency circumstances resulting in your absence.
Missing class means missing important information and guidance for the exams and assignments,
including possible amendments to this syllabus and schedule. Absences (as well as poor class
preparation) inhibit discussion and diminish the value of the course for all of us.
Any alterations to this syllabus will be communicated in a timely manner.
Method of Evaluation
Exams: 300 points
There will be three in-class exams worth 100 points each, comprised of objective and essay
questions. If you miss an exam, excluding the final, contact me as soon as possible to arrange a make-up, which must be completed within one week of the scheduled exam. Make-up exams will be entirely essay.
Reading Quizzes:75 points
There will be 7 quizzes. Six are worth 10 points each over the assigned reading in Sources of the Western Tradition.The last quiz requires your 15-20 line memorization of an excerpt of your choice (excluding plays, unless it is a monologue) from any of the readings in the Western Tradition text. Please clear your selection with me. You will write out your selection from memory in class. This quiz is worth 15 points.
Quizzes must be completed in ink or typewritten and are due at class time. (Do not send photos to me through email.) Answers must be expressed in full sentences. Late take-home quizzes will be penalized 3 points, if they are not submitted at class time and 4 points more every day thereafter.
In-classquizzes may not be made up.
Writing Assignment:40 points
You must do 1 assignment, addressing your choice of one of the following readings, which are available through the Ereserves link on the web page for HIST 2311. I will give you the assignment about a week in advance of its due date.
Late assignments will be penalized 10 points if not submitted at class time and 10 points more everyday thereafter.
Your paper requires the following:
- 3 pages, essay format (do not type the questions) Points will be deducted for short papers.
- one inch margins, double-spacing, and 12 point font
- heading:name, date, title of the reading (single-spaced at upper right corner)
- proofreading
The Frogs by Aristophanes February 13
The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus April 10
Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais April 26
Extra credit points: You may read one or both of the alternative readings (not the one you are writing on) and take a quiz, comprised of 8 multiple choice questions. You must correctly answer at least 5 of the 8 questions for to earn 10 points per reading, ie. 20 points in all.
Final grades are based on accumulated points as delineated in the following scale. There is no extra credit. Students are responsible for keeping all their work.
Grading scale:
360-435 = A (includes extra credit) 240-279 = D
320-359 = B 0-239 = F
280-319 = C
Advisement: The following advisement is offered in the interest of fostering your success in this course.
1) Study time for college courses is commonly figured at 2-3 hours for every hour of class time.
Some students may need more. A student carrying 12-15 credit hours is a full-time student. If you work
full-time and are a full-time student, it is unlikely you will have sufficient time for study. Be aware of
your work, school, and personal time demands so as to manage realistically your efforts towards success.
2) Consistent attendance and good note-taking in class are invaluable to your successful
completion of this course. Do not rely on your memory for assignments, deadlines, or class information.
Write it down. If you need further clarification or guidance, seek help immediately. Do not wait until too
late in the semester.
Classroom Etiquette: In the interests of maintaining a scholarly atmosphere in the classroom, phones
and computers are not allowed. Do not bring computers to class. Be sure your phone is turned off and
put away. Please arrive on time and refrain from leaving class before dismissal. Students coming and
going while the group is trying to work is distracting and discourteous. I appreciate your cooperation.
Students are expected to conform to the code of student conduct stated in the Collin Student
Handbook. Students who have a cell phone out during an exam will receive a "0" for that exam
and will be reported to the Dean of Students.
Course objectives: For better or for worse, western culture has come to dominate the globe in the
modern age. Some have called western culture the first "world culture." Western political and economic
ideas, technology, religion, etc. have affected societies significantly the world over, either through the
willing cooperation of such societies or despite their resistance. It is our purpose in this class to study the
origins and development of western civilization so as to understand ourselves better (as individuals and
as a society) as well as the impact of global "westernization." Therefore, our most basic objective is a
survey knowledge of western history from pre-historic times to the Reformation (16th century). We will
also undertake the analysis of this information, especially as it relates to our modern world.
PROPOSED COURSE CALENDAR
"L" = Levack, et al. "WT" = Western Traditions
**Bring SOURCES OF THE WESTERN TRADITION (Perry) to class with you.**
UNIT I
Jan 18 Introduction
Jan 23 Mesopotamia-L: Ch. 1.2;WT1: 1, 2, Ereserves:Wisdom Literature, EnumaElish
Jan 25 Egypt -L: Ch. 1.3;WT1: 4
Jan 30 The Levant -L: Ch. 2.3;WT2: 2, 4, 6
Feb 1 Archaic Greece -L:Ch. 3.1,79-80 (science);WT3: 1,4
Feb 6 Athens, Persian War -L:Ch. 3.2; WT 3: 7
Feb 8 Classical Athens -L: Ch. 3.3;WT3:3(Critias, Thucydides)
Feb 13 The Frogs; L: p 82-3; WT3: 10, 11, 12
Feb 15 Hellenistic World - L:Ch. 4;WT 13 (Epicurus)
Feb 20 EXAM I
UNIT II
Feb 22 Early Roman Republic - L: Ch. 5.1, 5.2, 5.4; WT 4: 1
Feb 27 Late Roman Republic - L: Ch. 5.3, 5.5; WT 4: 3/4/5/7
Mar 1 Roman Empire - L: Ch. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3; WT 5: 1, 2(Juvenal), 3(Marcus Aurelius), 6
Mar 6-10 Spring Break
Mar 13 Rise of Christianity –Ch. 6.4; WT 6: 3
Mar 15 Imperial Church - L: Ch. 7.1, 7.2
Mar 17 Last day to withdraw
Mar 20 “ - L: Ch. 7.3; WT: 6: 5,8/6/7
Mar 22 Heirs of Rome - L: Ch.7.4, Ch. 8.2; WT 5: 4,7: 2
Mar 27 Early Middle Ages: Carolingian World: Ch. 9.1, 9.2; WT 7: 6, 8, 9(Fulbert, Dhouda), de Born
Mar 29 Feudal Kingship - L: Ch. 9.3
Apr 3 EXAM II
UNIT III
Apr 5 High MA: Commercial Revolution, Church Reform - L: Ch. 10.1 to p.262; WT 8: 1, 2
Apr 10 Crusaders & Kings - L: Ch. 9.4, 10.3; WT 8: 8, 11
(optional: Ereserve: “Revival of Monarchies” - England, France)
TheArt of Courtly Love
Apr 12 High Medieval Christendom - L: Ch. 10.2; Ereserve: “Holy Roman Empire”
Ereserve: Abelard, Salisbury
Apr 17 Late MA: Church crisis, 100 Years War - L: Ch. 11.5; WT 8:13
Apr 19 LMA: Plague, War, Schism - L: Ch. 11.1, 11.4; WT 8: 12, 14
(optional: Ereserves: Thomasà Kempis)
Apr 24 Renaissance - L: Ch. 12.1, 12.2 to p324, 375-6; WT Into. + 9: 1(Petrarch, Bruni), 2,10: 1
Apr 26 Gargantua and Pantagruel
Early Modern State System: L – Ch. 12.3; WT 9:4
May 1 Reformed Theology - L: Ch. 14.1, 14.2; WT 10: 2, 3, 4
May 3 Reformation politics - L: Ch. 14.3, 14.4; WT 10: 5, 6; Ereserve: Ignatius Loyola
May 10 EXAM III