History 101: History of Western Civilization

Instructor: Dr. Matt ReclaEmail: matthewrecla@boisestate.eduOffice Hours: WF 10–11, Th 10:30–12:30

(and by appt.) SMTC 103BClass sections: 001: TTh 9–10:15 MP 118

002: MW 3–4:15 MP 211

“The value we put on the historical may be merely a Western prejudice: let us at least go forward within this prejudice and not stand still. If we could only learn better to study history as a means to life!” — Friedrich Nietzsche, The Use and Abuse of History

Course Description:Welcome to History 101: History of Western Civilization! This course introduces methods of historical interpretation and presents a political, economic, and cultural survey of Western Civilization from the earliest settled communities of the ancient Near East in the fourth millennium BCE up through the cultural renaissance and religious reformation of Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries of the common era. In other words, it covers a lot of chronological and geographical ground! Any course dealing with thousands of years of history must be selective. We will focus particularly on the significant roles of religion, conflict, and marginalized peoples in Western Civilization. We’ll ask some of the following questions:• How have religious traditions shaped the development of Western Civilization?• What has been the role of Western religions in cultural conflict and violence? • Is violence, particularly military conflict, necessary to our development as a civilization? • How do the stories of marginalized groups shift our understanding of history?We will also think about methods and theories of studying history. For example,• What counts as history and how does our understanding of history shape what we count?• How has higher education shifted both historical development and our understanding of it?• What is ‘Western Civilization’ anyway?

Required Texts:Clifford R. Backman. The Cultures of the West: A History, Vol. 1: To 1750. (New York: Oxford

University Press, 2013).The text can be purchased at the bookstore. It is also on reserve at Albertson Library. Additional readings will be disseminated through Blackboard or in class.

Course Objectives:Boise State’s Foundational Studies Program provides undergraduates with a broad-based education that spans the entire university experience. HIST 101 satisfies 3 credits of the Foundational Studies Program’s Disciplinary Lens in Literature and Humanities requirement. It supports the following University Learning Outcome, along with a variety of other course-specific goals:

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History 101: History of Western Civilization

• ULO 10: Literature and Humanities - Apply knowledge and the methods of inquiry characteristic of literature and other humanities disciplines to interpret and produce texts expressive of the human condition. (More information about each ULO can be found here.)

By the end of this course, students should be able to do the following:• Critical reading skills: Demonstrate a developing ability to locate, read, comprehend, and

critique historical texts and arguments by identifying content, context, and point of view/bias and by differentiating between fact and opinion (10.1);

• Writing/speaking skills: Create and defend a thesis in historical argumentation—identify and describe historical events, summarize, classify, and explain historical issues—primarily through the written word (10.2);

• Reasoning within the discipline: Synthesize a variety of historical information and draw reasoned conclusions; Demonstrate a developing understanding of the presence of both continuity and change within the history of a given time period or place (10.3);

• Cultural awareness: Describe the interaction of a variety of historical, social, and cultural groups; Assess and synthesize the impacts of these interactions on historical developments and how we talk about history, at a developing level (10.4);

• Personal development (recognition of our biases): Examine history from multiple perspectives without instinctively measuring them against a dominant historical or modern set of ideals that may already be familiar (10.5).

Classroom Guidelines:

Class Environment:We will spend a portion of nearly every class period in discussion, both in groups and as an entire class. This open and frank academic inquiry requires a civil classroom environment. No viewpoint will be discriminated against because of race, age, gender, class, religion, or ability. You may disagree with some of the views presented in the class, but I encourage you to express your thoughts and address your peers respectfully to help foster an open classroom. Please also let me know if there are ideas you think would make our class environment better.

Electronics Usage :1

While I value the connectivity of mobile devices as much as the next person, the best classroom environment is one where we can minimize distractions. As a result, unless I’ve specifically asked you to use them, please do not use laptops and phones in our class. Recent research makes it clear that multi-tasking is a detriment to learning. One recent study suggested that not only does the multi-tasking student perform worse on classroom assessments, but also his or her classmates nearby. Another study found that students who take notes on laptops process less and are outperformed by students who have taken notes by hand. If you have a specific and compelling reason to use an electronic device in our class for note-taking, please talk to me and we can make appropriate arrangements.

Thanks to Anne Kurzan for the links provided in the paragraph.1

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History 101: History of Western Civilization

Student Code of Conduct:Students are expected to follow the Boise State University Student Code of Conduct. Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, is a violation of the code. According to the Student Code of Conduct,“A violation may include cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty. All assignments submitted by a student must represent her/his own work, ideas, concepts, and current understanding or must cite the original source. Academic dishonesty includes assisting a student to cheat, plagiarize, or commit any act of academic dishonesty. Attempts to violate academic integrity do not have to be successful to be considered academic dishonesty” (http://deanofstudents.boisestate.edu/student-code-of-conduct/). Students responsible for academic dishonesty may receive a failing grade on an assignment or in the course. The most serious penalties for academic dishonesty are suspension or expulsion from the university. Nobody wants it to go there, so please refer to the Student Code of Conduct and ask if you are unsure about instances of academic dishonesty.

Email:When sending an email, please put the class name and a brief description of the subject in the subject line. Getting a thoughtful response starts with a thoughtful email. Start your email with a greeting, be clear, and end with your name. For more information on email etiquette, see the Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab). I will try my best to respond to emails within twenty-four hours. If you miss a class, consider asking a friend or speaking to me the following class. For emails regarding material for a missed class, I may request that you speak with me in person.

Grade Components:

You will be graded on the following scale: (97–99% = A+, 93–97% = A, 90–93% = A-). The scale is the same for each letter grade. An A represents distinguished work, a B superior work, a C average work, a D below average work, and an F failure of the assignment/course. Performing the minimum satisfactory work to complete the course will result in a ‘C’ grade. Although your concerted effort will usually improve your final grade, your assignments are graded not on effort but on the degree to which you meet the learning objectives of the course. Your grade is certainly important; however, focusing on what you can gain and contribute in our time together usually produces better results than focusing on the grade itself.The descriptions below provide a brief summary of the types of assessments in our class. All assignments will be described in class and detailed on Blackboard. Unless explained otherwise, final due dates for all assignments will be Sunday by the end of the day. Attendance is a part of your participation grade. It may be verified through an attendance sheet or through short, written individual or group responses. Life happens, and you may need

Attendance/Participation: 25% Blackboard Quizzes: 10% Annotated Bibliography: 5%

• First-day Questionnaire Midterm: 10% Research Paper Draft: 15%

• Academic Integrity Training Final: 15% Research Paper Final: 20%

Extra Credit: up to 4% (Individual appointment and/or Writing Center Visit(s))

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History 101: History of Western Civilization

to miss a class. Since you need to be present to participate, you can’t do it if you’re not here (obviously), and we’ll miss your contributions to the discussion! In case of absences, please maintain communication with me so I know you are still committed to the course. There are no excused absences in the sense that you are still required to make up for any work missed. For university-recognized absences, you’ll need to provide advance warning with documentation so alternative arrangements can be made. Unexcused absences can significantly impact your performance in the course.Participation is more than attendance. It includes active engagement in class sessions. Beyond being prepared for class by having done the reading(s) and thought about the material, it might include asking questions and offering suggestions in full-class discussions or taking an active role in small group work. We’ll discuss potential criteria for measuring participation in class. Blackboard quizzes encourage you to process the important events, persons, and themes from our course text. Quizzes are open-book and may consist of multiple choice, T/F, and/or fill in the blank. Quizzes can be taken twice and will be graded on the highest score. Quizzes are due at the end of the day on Sunday for the past week’s readings and classes. The Midterm and Final Exam will be a combination of term identifications and/or short essay answers. The final exam will be cumulative, but will be weighted toward the latter half of the class. More details and a study sheet will be discussed in class.The Research Essay will ask you to reflect over the course themes with a historical topic of your choosing (within the chronology of the class). You’ll be making an argument for why the topic (person, event, issue) is important within the context of Western Civilization as an area of study. This will involve critique of our course text, application of course themes, and analysis of common (mis)understandings of the topic. You will submit a complete first draft of the project midway through the semester, and the final project toward the end of class. Check the course schedule for details.

Office Hours and Individual Appointments:I encourage you to visit me during office hours. You can always just drop by, but you can also schedule an appointment ahead of time by clicking mattrecla.youcanbook.me or going to “Staff Information” on our Blackboard site. Appointments provide you an opportunity to ask questions about course topics or get clarification on assignments, before or after submission. A scheduled appointment also provides you the opportunity to earn extra credit. Let me know if your schedule conflicts, and we can find another time to meet. Appointments for credit must be completed before Week 14.

Blackboard:Blackboard is a critical component of this course. Here you will be able to find the most updated version of the syllabus and additional course readings as well as receive important communication from me. You can also check your grades through Blackboard. If you’re not familiar with the system, you can find short instructive videos about Blackboard at oit.boisestate.edu/learning/learning-technologies/blackboard-learn/student-help/.

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History 101: History of Western Civilization

Other resources:Writing Center - For support and feedback at any point in the writing process, you can meet with a writing consultant at the Writing Center. It is located in the Liberal Arts building, Room 200. To make an appointment, go to www.writingcenter.boisestate.edu or call 208-426-1298. On their website you can find more information about the Writing Center, including a list of tutors and their areas of expertise. After each session with a tutor you will receive a paper record of your visit. A visit to the Writing Center for revisions on your research project is also worth extra credit. Details will be given in class. Disability Accommodations - If you feel you need accommodations based on a disability, please contact me privately. You will also need to contact the Disability Resource Center (Administration Building 114) at 208-426-1583 to meet with a specialist and coordinate reasonable accommodations for any documented disability. For more information on the BSU Disability Resource Center, go to drc.boisestate.edu. To schedule an appointment, call or email your request to elysetaylor@boisestate.edu. Counseling Services - Counseling Services (healthservices.boisestate.edu/counseling/) provides services to graduate and undergraduate students, transfer students and veterans. They offer individual and group counseling to help you through life and school transitions. If you or a friend need to talk to an objective professional, or your family and friends’ advice isn’t helping enough, please feel free to make an appointment by stopping in or by calling (208) 426-1459.

Projected Course Schedule (Subject to change with notice):Topic Readings/Assignments

Week 1: Introduction to Western Civilization (1/11–1/17)

Class Introduction • Readings are due on the day of the class listed• Assignments and quizzes are due Sunday, 11:59 pm

Models/Themes for Understanding History • Cultures of the West (CoW), Introduction, xv–xxii• First-day Questionnaire Due!• Blackboard Quiz

Week 2: The Beginnings of Civilization (1/18–1/24)

Ancient Near East(MLK Day—no class on Mon. 1/18)

• CoW, Ch. 1, 3–20

Myths and Laws • CoW, Ch. 2, 33–40• Blackboard Quiz

Week 3: Iron Age Empires (1/25–1/31)

Ancient Egypt • CoW, Ch. 1, 20–30• CoW, Ch. 2, 40–50

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History 101: History of Western Civilization

The Iron Age • CoW, Ch. 2, 50–65• Blackboard Quiz• Academic Integrity Training Due

Week 4: The Hebrews (2/1–2/7)

The Hebrews and the Tanakh • CoW, Ch. 3, 69–80

From Golden Age to Captivity • CoW, Ch. 3, 80–94• Blackboard Quiz

Week 5: The Greeks (2/8–2/14)

The Homeric Age • CoW, Ch. 4, 97–110

The Archaic Age and the Persian Wars • CoW, Ch. 4, 111–128• Blackboard Quiz

Week 6: Democracy and Philosophy (2/15–2/21)

The Classical Age(Presidents Day—no class on Mon. 2/15)

CoW, Ch. 5, 131–147

The Philosophers • CoW, Ch. 5, 147–163• Blackboard Quiz• Annotated Bibliography Due

Week 7: Hellenism and the Roman Republic (2/22–2/28)

Alexander the Great CoW, Ch. 5, 158–169

The Roman Republic • CoW, Ch. 6, 171–187• Blackboard Quiz

Week 8: The Roman Empire (2/29–3/6)

Augustus and the Golden Age of Rome CoW, Ch. 6, 187–203

Midterm Preparation/Review

Week 9: The Rise of Christianity (3/7–3/13)

Midterm

The Birth of Christianity • CoW, Ch. 7, 205–225• Blackboard Quiz

Week 10: Late Antiquity (3/14–3/20)

Topic Readings/Assignments

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History 101: History of Western Civilization

Constantine and the Christian Empire CoW, Ch. 8, 237–252

The Beginnings of Islam • CoW, Ch. 8, 253–268• Blackboard Quiz• Research Paper Draft Due

Spring Break! (3/21–3/27)

Week 11: The Middle Ages (3/28–4/3)

Expansion of Islam CoW, Ch. 9, 296–304

The Dark Ages? • CoW, Ch. 9, 283–294, 304–307• Blackboard Quiz

Week 12 The Middle Ages: (4/4–4/10)

The Crusades • CoW, Ch. 9, 313–324

The Black Death • CoW, Ch. 10, 342–362• Blackboard Quiz

Week 13: Renaissance and Reform (4/11–4/17)

The Renaissance • CoW, Ch. 11, 373–390

Martin Luther’s Reformation • CoW, Ch. 11, 392–408• Blackboard Quiz• Research Paper Final Due

Week 14: The New World (4/18–4/24)

Columbus and Conquistadors • CoW, Ch. 12, 415–426, 428–436

The Wars of Religion • CoW, Ch. 12, 441–454• Blackboard Quiz

Week 15: Revolutions of Knowledge (4/25–5/1)

The Scientific Revolution CoW, Ch. 13, 465–484

Course Wrap-up

Final (M/W class: Wednesday May 4th, 12:30–2:30; T/Th class: Tuesday, May 3rd, 10–12)

Topic Readings/Assignments

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