World History I HIST , Spring 2017 ELABS/ARHU 258, MW 10:50 am-12:05 pm

Transcription

1 World History I HIST , Spring 2017 ELABS/ARHU 258, MW 10:50 am-12:05 pm Dr. Erica Buchberger ELABS/ARHU 348A erica.buchberger@utrgv.edu Office Hours: MW 2-3pm or by appointment Course Description To better understand and live in a global environment, this survey of world history traces the increasingly complex development and interaction of human societies from the huntergatherers of the Paleolithic Age to the first globalization in the 16th century. Readings, discussion, lectures, and visual material will emphasize the human experience in a comparative analysis of economic, social, political, and cultural systems around the globe. Learning Objectives Actively engaged students will learn to: critically interpret key events, major ideas, connections, and personalities that have shaped world societies from the Paleolithic era to the 16th century explain the significance of those factors on global economic, political, social, and cultural developments demonstrate a historical sensibility through written work situate primary historical records in their context Welcome to what I hope will be a great semester! Course Requirements and Evaluation Assignment Percentage of Final Grade Midterm Exam 25% Final Exam 25% Primary Source Analyses (2) 30% Reading Quizzes (12) 10% Participation 10% All assignments must be submitted at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. I may not accept late submissions; if I do, they will be given only partial credit. Assignments not handed in will receive a zero. Grading Scale: A % B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% F 0-59% 1

2 Exams There will be two exams in this course: the midterm and the final. While the final is not cumulative, meaning that it generally covers material from the second half of the semester only, students may need to draw comparisons with earlier material to most effectively answer some questions. Each exam will include identification and short answer questions. Primary Source Analyses Primary sources are the raw material from which historians come to understand the past. Learning to interpret and analyze them is an essential skill for any historian. There will be two in-depth analyses assigned as homework, with the source provided on Blackboard. In the week before the first analysis is due, we will spend a full class period discussing what I expect of a thorough analysis and practicing together as a group. Reading Quizzes To encourage careful reading of the textbook, students will be quizzed on textbook readings at the beginning of class. Quizzes will be short and focus on key people, places, and concepts they are not meant to trick you. Quizzes cannot be made up, but the two lowest quiz scores will be dropped. Readings and Class Participation Students must complete readings on time to make possible full participation in class discussions and exercises. Make sure that you complete all readings by the beginning of the class period for which they are assigned. Come to class with your book and be prepared to both answer questions and ask questions about the readings, and to think critically about them. Electronic devices may be used for class purposes only (e.g. viewing documents on Blackboard, notetaking). Do not text, browse the internet, or otherwise distract your neighbors! If you are found to abusing this privilege, it will be revoked and your participation grade will suffer. Participation grades will be calculated based on both the frequency and quality of your contributions to class. In addition to speaking in class, contribution also includes listening politely to others, participating in group work, and completing short exercises assigned in class or as homework. It also includes being respectful to your classmates and me by silencing your phones and arriving on time and not leaving early so as not to interrupt class. Help everyone get more out of this course. Ask and answer questions, share your ideas, and show respect when others share their ideas. There is no separate attendance grade for this course. As adults, it is your choice to make whether or not to attend. However, if you choose to miss class you also miss participation points and useful information from lecture and discussion that may show up on the exams. Students who do not regularly attend class usually do less well than their classmates who attend regularly. I highly encourage you to make every effort to attend each class and be ready to actively engage with the material, to help you do the best you can in this course. 2

3 Required Materials Jerry Bentley, et al., Traditions and Encounters: A Brief Global History, Vol. 1 to 1500 (abbreviated T&E below). Either the 3 rd (2014) or 4 th (2016) edition is acceptable. o Brief 3 rd edition ISBN: o Brief 4 th edition ISBN: Schedule * This is a guide to the topics and readings for the full semester, and I reserve the right to make adjustments.* Readings and assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day listed. Week 1: M 1/ NO CLASS MLK Jr. Day W 1/ Introduction to World History Week 2: M 1/ Early Middle East: Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Indo-Europeans READ: T&E chapter 1 First reading quiz (quiz EVERY Monday) W 1/ Assignment: Ancient Sites Investigation: find out what you can about one of the following ancient places (either their ancient past or what s left there today) to share with your classmates. Sites: Ur, Uruk, Nippur, Babylon, Assur (aka Ashur), Nineveh Week 3: M 1/ Early Africa: Egypt, Nubia, and the Bantu READ: T&E chapter 2 W 2/1 --- no reading Week 4: M 2/6 --- Early Americas and Oceania: Olmecs, Maya, and Chavín READ: T&E chapter 4 W 2/8 --- no reading Week 5: M 2/ Persia READ: T&E chapter 5 W 2/ no reading Introduction to Primary Source Analysis in class Week 6: M 2/ China: Qin and Han READ: T&E chapter 6 W 2/ READ: Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An (on Blackboard) First Primary Source Analysis DUE (on Sima Qian, submitted to Blackboard by the beginning of class) Week 7: M 2/ India: Mauryan and Gupta READ: T&E chapter 7 W 3/1 --- no reading 3

4 Week 8: M 3/6 --- no reading makeup day or review W 3/8 --- MIDTERM EXAM SPRING BREAK Week 9: M 3/ Classical Mediterranean: Greece and Rome READ: T&E chapter 8 W 3/ no reading Week 10: M 3/ Silk Roads and the Collapse of China and Rome READ: T&E chapter 9 W 3/ no reading Week 11: M 4/3 --- Byzantine Empire READ: T&E chapter 10 W 4/5 --- no reading Week 12: M 4/ Islamic World READ: T&E chapter 11 W 4/12 READ: Treaties of Islamic Conquest (on Blackboard) Second Primary Source Analysis DUE (on your choice of one of the treaties, submitted to Blackboard by the beginning of class) Week 13: M 4/ Nomadic Empires : Mongols and Turks READ: T&E chapter 14 W 4/ no reading Week 14: M 4/ Medieval Europe READ: T&E chapter 16 W 4/ no reading Week 15: M 5/1 --- no reading W 5/3 --- no reading makeup day or review FINAL EXAM (in this classroom): Monday 5/8, 10:15am-noon 4

5 UTRGV Standard Policies STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by phone at (956) (Voice) or via at ability@utrgv.edu. Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at (956) (Voice), (956) (Fax), or via at ability@utrgv.edu. MANDATORY COURSE EVALUATION PERIOD: Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account ( you will be contacted through with further instructions. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades. Online evaluations will be available: Feb 15 Feb 21 for Module 1 courses Apr 12 Apr 18 for Module 2 courses Apr 12 May 3 for full spring semester courses ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for excessive absences. UTRGV s attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for observance of religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the instructor in advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations. SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY: As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students. SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, and VIOLENCE: In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a responsible employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to 5

6 provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. COURSE DROPS: According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the 3-peat rule and the 6-drop rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time. 6