History 205A - Western Civilization to 1500

Summer, 2007

Dr. Holly S. Hurlburt

hurlburt@siu.edu

Office Hours: T-Th: 10-11 or by appt

 

Course Overview:

The main goal of this course is to examine the broad themes of western society from its origins in the Middle East and Mediterranean to its period of expansion and exploration in the sixteenth century. We shall do this not only by discussing broad political and economic developments and interactions with other world peoples, but also through focus on culture – how everyday people like ourselves define, celebrate and seek to understand their surroundings and lives. We shall also begin to think about history and its sources, by examining the visual and textual historical record, and thinking how our understanding of the past has been shaped and constructed.

 

Required Readings:

            Aristophanes, Lysistrata (Penguin ed.)

Hunt, et al, The Making of the West, Concise ed. vol. 1

More, Utopia

Sturluson, King Harald’s Saga

           

Aristophanes, More and Sturluson are available on reserve in the library if you choose not to purchase them.  More and Sturluson may be purchased on line – you will need copies of Hunt and Aristophanes the first week of class. For exams you will be responsible for all readings and class materials – which will not necessarily overlap, so reading is very important. In addition to the above readings there will be periodic short document-based readings linked through the course website. Bring these and all readings to class on days they are to be discussed.

 

Grades

A summer course by definition must move quickly.  In each class we will discuss materials amounting to a week during the regular semester. It is imperative that you keep up with the reading material, and come to class prepared to discuss it. Further, chronic absenteeism is not unacceptable – more than 2 will result in a lower grade. Contact the professor in advance if you must be absent and obtain ID terms from lecture outlines. Late papers and plagiarism will not be tolerated.

            Attendance and Participation             20%

            Midterm, Final                                    20% each (map, IDs, essay)

            2 papers                                              20% each (assignments posted on web)

 

Course Schedule

Week I – The Ancient Mediterranean

June 11 – Introduction – Why ‘Western’ Civilization?

 

June 12-Mediterranean Society Emerges

            Read: Hunt, chs. 1-2; online documents            

 

June 13 – Mediterranean Society in Transition

            Read: Hunt, ch 3-4, Aristophanes (to be discussed in class)

 

June 14-15 – The Roman World

            Read: Hunt, ch. 5-6; online documents

            Film: Episode of Rome (June 14)

            Paper 1 (Aristophanes) Due June 15

 

Week II – Monotheistic Religions

June 18-Contexts for Monotheism in the Ancient World

            Read: Hunt, pp. 30-33; online documents

           

June 19 – Christianity in Transition, 1st-3rd Centuries

            Read: Hunt pp. 195-205, 222-235; online documents

 

June 20 – Roman Decline, Germanic, Christian Expansion

            Read: Hunt, pp. 259-68; 275-88; online documents

 

            June 21 – Emergence of Islam

            Read: Hunt, pp. 268-75, 303-09; online documents

           

June 22 – Midterm Exam

 

Week III – The ‘Middle’ Ages

June 25 – Fragmentation and Invasions, 8-10th c

Read: Hunt, pp. 309-23; Sturluson

 

June 26 – Church Power, 600-1200

Read: Hunt, pp. 346- 58, 398-409; online documents

 

June 27 - Kings and their Culture

            Read: Hunt, pp. 358-69, online documents

 

            June 28 – Film – The Lion in Winter

            Paper 2 Due

 

            June 29 – Church Culture, 900-1300

            Read: Hunt, pp. 369-82, 409-22; online documents

 

Week IV – The ‘End’ of the Middle Ages?

            July 2 – Economic Revolution, 1100-1400

            Read: Hunt, 339-346; online documents

 

            July 3 – Tumult of the Fourteenth Century

            Read: Hunt, pp. 426-448; online documents

 

            July 5 – Contexts for Exploration

            Read: Hunt, pp. 463-71; online documents, More (intro, pp. 15-21, 49-113)

 

July 6 – Final Exam

Map for review