Syllabus

World History to the Sixteenth Century
HIST 1050 (Sections 031 and 888)
Fall 2017 Semester
3 credit hours
History Department, University of North Texas

Instructor: Roy J deCarvalho, Ph.D.
Instructor profile:
Email Address:
Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, other Restrictions

There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for entry to this course.

Minimum Technology and Technical Skill Requirements

For Blackboard, students will need to use a computer which supports the following requirements:

For other course material, students will need to have internet access and speakers/headphones for audio content.
Students will need to know how to create and upload a Word document onto Blackboard, download and upload files in general, send and receive emails, general use of the internet, and use the course website.
Basic Course Goals

Goal I. Students will improve their ability to think critically.
Goal II. Students will improve their ability to think in historical terms.
Goal III. Students will improve their written communication skills.
History 1050 Learning Objectives – UNT History Department

HIST 1050 Students will:
1. Understand major world civilizations and their characteristics from ca. 3000 BCE to 1500 CE
1.1. Demonstrate knowledge of the various cultures
1.1.1. Pinpoint major developments
1.1.2. Identify pertinent people in the multiple cultures
1.2. Know the characteristics and contributions of each of the civilization
1.2.1. Define the development and criteria of civilization
1.2.2. Describe the characteristics and contributions of each civilization
1.2.3. Discuss the difference between the various cultures
2. Evaluate factors and patterns in the major changes, and the rise and fall of civilizations
2.1. Explain arguments of class struggle and rise and fall cycles
2.1.1. Evaluate the Marxist cycle by applying it to various civilizations.
2.1.2. Evaluate the Chinese dynastic cycle by applying it to the Chinese dynasties and considering its usefulness in other civilization applications.
2.1.3. Recognize race and class struggle within the various cultures
2.1.4. Compare ancient and modern issues of race and class struggle
2.2. Synthesize the various factors of change and rise and fall for each civilization
2.2.1. Identify major people involved in changes and rise and fall of civilizations
2.2.2. Connect individuals with their contribution and significance in history
2.2.3. Describe the causes for rising civilizations
2.2.4. List major changes in each civilization
2.2.5. Classify the reasons of decline for each civilization
2.2.6. Compare and contrast patterns of rise and fall of civilization
3. Think critically about major themes in the ancient and modern world
3.1. Analyze the roots and belief systems of the ancient world’s major religions
3.1.1. Identify what features are similar and different with the modern world
3.1.2. Compare the impact of religion on ancient and modern society
3.1.3. Evaluate the influence of religion and belief systems on the various socio-culture dynamics
3.1.4. Consider the influence of government and propaganda on religion
3.2. Draw conclusions about social belief as it relates to gender roles in the ancient and modern cultures
3.2.1. Define the role of gender in several of the civilizations
3.2.2. Compare and contrast gender roles in the various civilization
3.3. Demonstrate ability to interpret how laws reflect the belief and value system as well as other writing
3.3.1. Use primary documents to challenge conceptions and increase understanding of the various cultures
3.3.2. Construct arguments about themes of gender, race, class, and religion based on various societies’ laws.

Attendance

Since this is an online course, students need to complete an Introduction assignment (Introduction Discussion Post) to be certified in the course for financial aid verification. Students who fail to complete the Introduction assignment will not be certified in the course. This can adversely affect financial aid. The Introduction assignment must be completed during the first week of classes..
Course Description

The course provides a basic survey of the development of civilization from the beginning of recorded history to the sixteenth century (1500-1599). It includes descriptions of the civilizations that evolved in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It shows how political systems, particularly empires, developed and then declined, explains the political structures that they developed, describes the economic foundations of these states and their relationships to the world’s major religions. The course analyses the role of gender and highlights the importance of war, conquest and trade both as causes of upheaval and as vehicles for spreading ideas and knowledge. By studying these developments, students will improve their analytical skills, their competence in finding information and their communication skills.
Method of Instruction

A variety of instructional techniques will be used throughout the class. These include readings both in the textbook and online, audio-visual materials, and class discussion. Class discussions will be centered on the academic material and students should make sure all comments are academic and respectful. Disrespect and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated!
Format

Learning Modules
The course is built around the completion of a module for each section. Students must write a report for each module.Each module also has a exam which covers the reading assignment and requires participation at the Discussion Board.

Sections
The course has three sections, and at the end of each section, the student is responsible for writing and submitting an essay utilizing the information from that section. In general, the course divides the material regionally in order for students to understand the long-term development of cultures and traditions. At the end of each section there is also a report and exam. Participation at the Board should be an on going activity.
Section 1
The first section moves through the foundation and development of western civilization by focusing on cultures and kingdoms around the Mediterranean Sea. Each module discusses a particular historical period and highlights culturally dominant groups in the region ending in the civilization that has had the largest effect on western culture, the Roman Empire.
Section 2
The second section continues to complete the story of western civilization by drawing the historical development of the culturally dominant Christian world to its precipice before the onset of the modern era. Then this section shifts to the region of North Africa and the Middle East. Beginning with Ancient Egypt, it demonstrates the transition of North Africa and the Middle from some of its earliest origins to the beginning of Muslim dominance in the region. Section two ends with the pinnacle of Muslim dominance in the region through a discussion of Islamic Empires.
Section 3
The third and final section of the course looks at various other regions and discusses their history and cultural significance until the sixteenth century. It first focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas before the influence of Europeans. Then, the course shifts to Asia where modules examine smaller areas within the vast Asian continent from East Asia to West Asia.
Course Materials
The following textbook is required for the course, and it is available in both paper format and online. Additionally, the textbook is available as both a combined edition and as two separate volumes.

The combined edition (volumes 1 and 2) is:
Judge, Edward H. and John W. Langdon. Connections: A World History. 3rd ed. New York: Pearson, 2016.
For this course, students only need volume 1 (volume 2 is rather used for hist1060)
Judge, Edward H. and John W. Langdon. Connections: A World History. Volume 1. 3rd ed. New York: Pearson, 2016.
In addition to the UNT Bookstore, Connections is available on the Pearson REVEL website at There is also an Amazon Kindle version of Connections available.
Class Webpage: Blackboard Learn, 9.1

The class takes place on the Blackboard Learn 9.1 website.
To access the website, go to
Log in with your EUID and password. Click HIST1050.xxx, Semester Year. On this Blackboard page, you can access the following:
1. Announcements from the instructor.
2. Start Here. This has all the information you need to start the course and answers any questions about the course.
3. The syllabus.
4. Course Content contains folders for each course section.
5. Discussions is where all the Discussion Forums and Discussion Questions are located.
6. Get Help provided information on where to get help for the course.
7. My Grades is where all the course grades are available.
8. Instructor Information will tell you all about the instructor for the course and how to contact the instructor if you have any problems.
If you have any difficulties contact UNT UIT Helpdesk:
(940) 565-2324.
Assignments

The course has three different types of assignments: Exams, Essays and Participation at the Discussion Board.

Exams

Each section has an exam that covers the material of that section.Exams have three components: multiple choice, short identifications (Ids) and essay. Click the link, Course Schedule, for the precise dates. The exam is 40% of each section grade (the other 40% being the essay and 20% participation at the Board).The 40% of theexam is divided as follows, 20% Essay, 10% Multiple choice, 10% Ids. Click the link Exam Instructions for details.

Discussion Board/Participation

Every chapter has a forum at the Discussion Board. Students are required to post in each forum and reply to at least one other post. Posts must be related to the material of the chapters.You must draw from the material in the textbook in order to write your post. Students who fail to read and incorporate the textbook material into their post will not receive good grades on their assignment. Each post should be at least 200 words. This assignment is worth 20% of the section grade. In addition to your own post, you must also comment on another student’s post by replying to their original thread in at least 50 words. In your reply, you need to comment in general on what the other person posted and pose thoughtful questions about their original post rather than simply saying that you liked or disliked what they wrote. In general, your posts should be centered on academic discussions of the material. This assignment isan ongoing class activity. The more you participate and contribute the more points you will have. The grade of this assignment is curved according to a Bell Curve. Meaning that all points will be awarded to the 20% most active students. Quantity and quality of the posts are taken both into consideration.

*All students must complete the “Introduction” forum in order to be certified for the course. Students who fail to complete the “Introduction” post by its deadline will not be certified in the course and will be removed from the roll.

Essays

Each student is responsible for writing an essay at the end of each section due by the date listed in the syllabus. Each essay should be around 1000 words and focus on any aspect of the section's material. Chose a topic with focus that interested you most and you wish to write about the details and express an opinion or interpretation. The use of additional internet materialis welcome but should be restricted only to sound academic sources. For extra help in completing your essay, read the file “How to Write a Well-Formed Essay” located at the Report Instructions link.Essays are turned in on Blackboard via the Turn It In link located in each section folder. Essays are worth 40% of each section grade.

Late Assignments

Late Assignments will not be accepted unless the student contacts the instructor about problems with the course, emergencies, etc. The instructor will decide on a case by case basis whether a student is allowed to turn in an assignment late.

Some problems which normally warrant late assignments:
Death in the family
Serious illness or injury
Poor weather (hindering the uploading of assignments)
**If there is a problem with anything related to the course, contact the instructor immediately!!!**

Grade Calculations

Participation: 20%

Exams: 40%

Essays: 40%

Accessing Grades

Your grades will be available to you on the Blackboard Grade Center as the assignment of each section is graded during the semester. If you have any questions about your grades, please contact the instructor immediately.
Academic Honesty Policy
You are encouraged to become familiar with the University's Policy of Academic Dishonesty found in the Student Handbook. The content of the Handbook applies to this course. If you are in doubt regarding the requirements, please consult with the instructor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism
Any form of cheating or plagiarism is not permitted. Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s ideas, writing, or work without giving proper credit through citation. The copying of another’s work is grounds for immediate failure.
Turn It In Notice
Your essays will be checked using Turnitin software to determine if you have complied with UNT’s plagiarism regulations. Discussion posts may also be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin as well.
Netiquette: Website etiquette rules

Rule 1: Remember the Human.
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life.
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace.
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth.
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online.
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge.
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control.
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy.
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power.
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.

Course Evaluation
Students are encouraged to express their opinion about the course using the SPOT course evaluation system available at spot.unt.edu. The evaluation system opens during the semester and closes before exam week. Students will receive an email from SPOT with a link to the course evaluation page.
Instructor Responsibilities and Feedback
My mission is to help you learn about the development of civilization and, in doing so, to help you learn how to think on your own. If you have difficulty with any part of the course, please contact me as soon as possible. I will take action immediately to help you overcome the challenge that you face. If you identify a problem in the design of the course, please inform me so that I can solve it. My goal is to provide you with an informative, challenging and interesting course, delivered in a professional manner. At the end of the semester, you should know more about world civilizations before 1600 than you did at the beginning. In addition, your reasoning skills and self-confidence should have improved.
ODA Statement
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters of accommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of the student. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.

Technical Problems
The course is available on Blackboard. Blackboard Learn is a secure, Web-based environment that supports content delivery, online collaboration, and assessment. To login to Blackboard Learn, go to For information about using Learn go to
Blackboard Technical Requirements and Support

Blackboard Technical Support
Technical support for Blackboard is provided by the UNT UIT Helpdesk. Students may contact the UIT Helpdesk by phone at 940-565-2324 or by email at . The UIT Helpdesk also accepts walk-ins for students who are on the UNT Denton campus in Sage Hall, room 130. Hours of operation are posted on the UIT Helpdesk website at
**For any questions or problems about technology please contact Blackboard at or 940-565-2324 or go to Sage Hall 130.**
Academic Services
The University of North Texas has a variety of academic services available to help you succeed at UNT and in this course.
Tutoring
If you need help studying or understanding the material, or if you want to read the textbook, go to the History Help Center located in Wooten 220 at the UNT main campus in Denton, TX. The History Help Center is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Fridays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The UNT Learning Center does not provide tutoring either in person or online for this course.
Online help with writing an essay
This can help you if you are struggling writing an essay in the correct format, if you have grammar issues, or any other technical writing issues. For help on the topic or questions that are history specific, you must go to the History Help Center in Wooten 220 at the UNT main campus in Denton, TX. The History Help Center is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Fridays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Computers
If you need access to a computer to complete your assignments, use this link to find computer labs on UNT campus. Make sure to check the hours of operation since these are subject to change.
Veterans
If you are a military service member or a veteran, there are a variety of services available to you at UNT. Use the link below to find out more.
Library

Academic Success Program

Learning Workshops

Important Notice for F-1 Students taking Distance Education Courses
Federal Regulation
To read detailed Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulations for F-1 students taking online courses, please go to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations website at The specific portion concerning distance education courses is located at Title 8 CFR 214.2 Paragraph (f)(6)(i)(G)
The paragraph reads
(G) For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An on-line or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing. If the F-1 student's course of study is in a language study program, no on-line or distance education classes may be considered to count toward a student's full course of study requirement.
University of North Texas Compliance
To comply with immigration regulations, an F-1 visa holder within the United States may need to engage in an on-campus experiential component for this course. This component (which must be approved in advance by the instructor) can include activities such as taking an on-campus exam, participating in an on-campus lecture or lab activity, or other on-campus experience integral to the completion of this course.
If such an on-campus activity is required, it is the student’s responsibility to do the following
(1) Submit a written request to the instructor for an on-campus experiential component within one week of the start of the course.
(2) Ensure that the activity on campus takes place and the instructor documents it in writing with a notice sent to the International Student and Scholar Services Office. ISSS has a form available that you may use for this purpose.
Because the decision may have serious immigration consequences, if an F-1 student is unsure about his or her need to participate in an on-campus experiential component for this course, s/he should contact the UNT International Student and Scholar Services Office (telephone 940-565-2195 or email ) to get clarification before the one-week deadline.
Assignment Schedule