Katherine Allocco                                                                                             North Hall 4312N

History 231                                                                                                      237-8000 x. 2830

Spring 2005                                                                                                     kait4@juno.com

 

Origins of the Contemporary World from the Classical Period to the Enlightenment

 

History 231 is a general survey of world history from Antiquity to the early modern period (around the 18th century CE). While survey courses endeavor to include a sweeping narrative of the arts, religion, society, institutions and politics of a myriad of diverse cultures, they are, by their very nature, forced to move quickly through a tremendous amount of material. In this course, we will attempt, therefore, to pursue a general understanding of the broad themes of human development and of recurring patterns throughout our collective history. In the interests of time and equanimity then, we will follow mainly a geographical and chronological course as we explore the global interactions among the many great civilizations of the pre-modern world.

 

One of the goals of this course is to present a holistic integrative view of global history and the constant (and ancient) exchange of ideas among cultures. We will examine the many institutions, societies and cultures of Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa and Asia, noting their unique developments and their impact upon each other. We will pay particular attention to the similarities among this plurality of cultures, seeking out universalities like the presence of law, religion and established gender roles. However, we will also pay attention to their differences, thus promoting an appreciation of the diversity of the human experience.

 

Classes will be structured around lectures and discussion of the readings. All students will benefit from active participation in class meetings and are encouraged to contribute.

 

Course Objectives:

to provide a broad understanding of the development of world civilizations

to cultivate an appreciation of globalization, cultural exchange and conflict

to encourage a student’s ability to evaluate ideas, interpret evidence and argue critically

to continue to develop strong writing and speaking skills and effective personal expression

to promote an interest in history and in the importance of our unfolding heritage

to create a classroom environment in which all students may express their views

 

office hours

            My scheduled office hours will be:         Wednesdays 7th period

                        I will also be available Thursday afternoons by appointment only

            My office is located in the History Department in North Hall Room 4312 N.

            office phone:     212 237-8000  ext. 2830

            email:    kait4@juno.com

            THE BEST WAY TO REACH ME IS BY EMAIL.

            Please feel free to email me anytime, and we can arrange an appointment.

 

required reading

 

1.         Civilization Past and Present Volume 1 to 1650  10th ed.  Brummett, Edgar, Hackett…

            Addison Wesley Longman, 2002.

            ISBN  0-321-10724-1

            You will be given reading assignments in your text book for each class.

            Textbook reading assignments are listed below as Brummett.

            Please bring your text to each class meeting.

 

2.         World History Atlas

            Addison Wesley Longman, 1996.

                        ISBN  0-673-98177-0

 

                        The atlas is designed to help you study for your exams.

            Please bring your atlas to each class meeting.

 

            3.         Lieutenant Nun: Memoir of a Basque Transvestite in the New World

                        Michele Stepto and Gabriel Stepto, trans.

                        Beacon Press, 1996.

                        ISBN  0-8070-7073-4

 

                        We will have an in-class discussion of this book on Monday May 16.

                        Attendance will be mandatory on this day.

           

course assignments

W March 2                                                      blue book exam                        30%

M April 11                                                       blue book exam                        30%

M May 23                                                        blue book exam                        30%

daily                                                                 class participation                     10%

 

Blue book exams:

 

            90% of your final grade is based on the three blue book exams administered in class.

            Each exam will consist of identifications and short essay questions

            Exams are NOT cumulative. The questions on each exam will pertain only to the material                       which has not been covered in the previous exam.

            Exam questions will be based on lectures, your textbook and your atlas.

            The third exam will also include a question from Lieutenant Nun.

 

            THERE ARE NO MAKEUP EXAMS.

 

Class participation

 

As part of your grade, you must come to class prepared and ready to participate. I expect you to have completed your readings, and to thus be able to answer and to raise questions about them in class. Class will be more interesting and effective if everyone contributes.

Monday May 16 is a discussion day in class. You will read your primary source, Lieutenant Nun, and come to class prepared to discuss it. Attendance is mandatory on this day.

 

Your grades are based on your exams and class participation.

 

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS EXTRA CREDIT IN MY CLASSES.

 

 

maps

Geography is very important, and you must have a clear understanding of the location of the many regions we will be discussing. PLEASE being your atlas to class and your textbook. It will be helpful for you to have the maps open in front of you during lecture.

In this class, you will be given map exercises in class. These exercises are NOT graded. Instead, they are designed to help you practice locating the continents, countries, oceans, rivers and cities that we will be studying. Use these exercises to test yourself and to develop your general geographical knowledge.

I do not currently plan to test you regularly on geography. However, if I find that there is a significant lack of relevant geographical knowledge which impedes the learning process in this classroom, then I reserve the right to institute map tests as necessary.

One recommended text is Gerald A. Danzer’s World History: An Atlas and Study Guide published by Prentice Hall (ISBN 0 13 095382 2). I have ordered this wonderful historical atlas, which should be available in the bookstore. It is not required, but you will find it to be very helpful. If you do not wish to purchase an atlas, there are a number of good online sites.

For example, one of the best sites is:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection

 

attendance policy

 

            Clearly, I expect you to attend every class meeting, to come to class prepared and to be able to participate. If you know that you cannot attend a particular class meeting, you must tell me as soon as you can so that I am better able to excuse you from that class meeting if possible. Failure to tell me beforehand will result in an unexcused class absence.

            Any student with 6 or more unexcused absences will have his or her grade dropped and risks the possibility of my dropping you from the class.

            Please note that on  Monday May 16 attendance is mandatory.

            We will be having a class discussion that day and all must participate.

 

cell phones

 

            Please turn your cell phones off when you come to class.

            Phone calls in the middle of class are rude, disruptive and distracting.

            Failure to turn your phones off will have a negative impact on your class participation grade.

            I am serious about deducting points from your final grade if your phone rings in class.

 

cheating

 

            If you cheat, you will receive an F in this class. There are no exceptions.

 

website

 

            This syllabus can be found online at:                  http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~kallocco/

 

 

 

reading assignments and topical schedule

 

            Reading assignments are listed next to the date on which they are due

 

 

I.          The Emergence of Civilization

 

 

M  Jan 31         Mesopotamia

                        Introduction

                        handout “The BC/AD System for Reckoning Dates” Lynn Hunt

                        Atlas p. 2

 

W Feb 2          Mesopotamia

                        Brummett  ch 1. p. 10-17

                        Atlas p. 3

 

M Feb 7           Egypt

                        Brummett  ch 1. p. 17-26

                        Atlas p. 3

 

W Feb 9          Mediterranean Peoples

                        Brummett  ch 1. p. 26-37

                        Atlas p. 3

 

M Feb 14         India

                        Brummett  ch 3 p. 64-78

                        Atlas p. 4

 

W Feb 16        China

                        Brummett  ch 2 p. 40-52

                        Atlas p. 4

 

M Feb 21        No Class

           

W Feb 23        Africa

                        Brummett  ch 8 p. 214-221

                        Atlas p. 17

 

M  Feb 28        Mesoamerica

                        Brummett  ch 12 p. 324-331

                        Atlas p. 15

           

                                   

W Mar 2         First Exam in class

 

 

 

II.        The Rise of Empires

 

 

M  Mar 7         Greek City States

                        Brummett  ch 4. p. 92-113

                        Atlas p. 5

 

W Mar 9          Greece and the Hellenistic Age

                        Brummett  ch 4. p. 113-120

                        Atlas p. 6

           

M Mar 14        The Roman Republic

                        Brummett  ch 5. p. 122-135

                        Atlas p. 9

                       

W  Mar 16       The Roman Empire

                        Brummett  ch 5. p. 136-153

                        Atlas p. 10

 

M Mar 21        India

                        Brummett  ch 3 p. 78-90

                        Atlas p. 13

           

W Mar 23        China

                        Brummett  ch 2 p. 53-62; ch 11 p. 297-305

                        Atlas p. 13

 

M Mar 28       No Class

 

 

W Mar 30        Mongols and China   

                        Brummett  ch 11 p. 312-321

                        Atlas p. 18

 

M Apr 4           The Empire of the East: Christian Byzantium

                        Brummett  ch 6 p. 160-174

                        Atlas p. 11

 

W Apr 6          South America

                        Brummett  ch 12 p. 334-339

                        Atlas p. 21

 

M Apr 11        Second Exam in class

 

 

 

III.       The Quickening of Globalization

 

 

W Apr 13        Emerging European Kingdoms, Vikings and other Invaders

                        Brummett  ch 9 p. 244-255

                        Atlas p. 11, 14

 

 

M Apr 18         Medieval Europe: 12th century Renaissance          

                        Brummett  ch 9 p. 256 “Chivalry”; ch 10 p. 283-287

 

W  Apr 20       Europe and the Middle East: the Crusades

                        Brummett  ch 10 p. 270-273

                        Atlas p. 16

 

April 23- May 1          Spring Break

 

M May 2          Asia and Europe: Trade and The Black Death

                        Brummett  ch 10 p. 274-283

                        Atlas p. 16 “Medieval Trade Routes” inset

 

 

W May 4         The Italian and Northern Renaissance

                        Brummett  ch 15

 

 

M May 9          The Reformation

                        Brummett  ch 16 p. 420-436

 

 

W May 11       Colonial Enterprises in Africa, Asia and the Americas

                        Brummett  ch 12 p. 331-334; ch. 17 p. 461-469

                        Atlas 19, 20, 21, 24-25

 

 

M  May 16       Latin America and Europe Collide

                        ****** Attendance is Mandatory on this day

                        Discussion:       Lieutenant Nun

                        Read the entire book and be prepared to discuss it in class today.

                        Be sure to read the Introduction (but you can skip the Forward).

 

 

W May 18       Africa and the Atlantic System

                        Brummett  ch 8 p. 222-241; ch 17 p. 452-461

                        Atlas p. 20, 27

 

M May 23      Final Exam     6:15-8:15 pm