HIS 230 WORLD CIVILIZATIONS I
Revised March 19, 2020
Dr. Kenneth J. Orosz Office Hours: T 3:00-4:00
Spring 2020 W 10:00-12:00
Class Meetings: Classroom Bldg B332 Office: Classroom Bldg C230
TR 10:50-12:05 Phone: 878-3203
E-mail: oroszkj@buffalostate.edu
Transition to Online Teaching
As you all know, we are moving into uncharted waters with social distancing and the mandated switch to online teaching. Regarding our class, some things will change but much of the course architecture will remain the same. Please contact me via email as soon as possible if you have any questions, concerns, or experience problems accessing materials in Blackboard.
Lectures: I will be teaching the class in an asynchronous fashion by posting Powerpoints with embedded audio to the Content section of Blackboard. What that means to you, is that you can log in, download and watch the Powerpoints at any time rather than structuring your day around what was our scheduled class time.
Wherever possible, I will break lectures down into smaller, more manageable chunks so that you are not trapped in front of a monitor for 75 minutes at a time. This means that you will probably see more topics per week than originally listed on the syllabus. Please watch them in order and stay on schedule as much as possible; there will be far too much to cover if you try to catch up at the last minute.
Given that nearly every university and school has shifted over to online teaching, I suspect that the internet will slow to a crawl during peak times. Embedding audio means that the Powerpoint files will be quite large and will slow things down further and will quickly exhaust your data plans. I strongly recommend that you use Wifi only and that you download batches of files during off peak hours to watch later.
The lecture Powerpoints are set up to mimic the experience you would have had in class minus the ability to ask questions. When you open the Powerpoint click on the “Slide Show” tab at the top of the screen; then click on the “From the beginning” button in the upper left of your screen. The Powerpoint will then play like a video from start to finish. If you need to pause the lecture, right click on the slide and select pause from the menu. To resume, either right click or hit the Escape button on your keyboard.
If you want to slow things down further or re-watch pieces of the lecture, once you open the Powerpoint you should place your cursor on top of the desired slide. Left click once to highlight the slide and then click on the “From Current Slide” button at the top of the screen to play the slide show from that point. You can also watch slides on an individual basis. To do that, double click on the desired slide to open a larger version and then click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the slide to start the audio.
Readings: Since we will be playing catch up for a week or two in terms of topics covered, you will need to look at the original syllabus (posted below) to match reading assignments to topics. Eventually, however, we will get back on track and readings should be done by the date listed on the original syllabus.
Assignments: I am extending the starting deadline for our next Blackboard discussions by one week. That means Discussion 3 will now begin March 31; Discussion 4 will begin on April 21. I will send reminder emails to that effect on the day that the discussions begin.
The assigned second paper will continue with only one modification; this must now be submitted electronically as Word documents so that I can use Comments bubbles while grading. Please note that all other instructions - including the need to adhere to the History Style Sheet - remain in effect. The paper remains due May 5 and must be submitted no later than 11:00 AM. Please send your papers as e-mail attachments to oroszkj@buffalostate.edu. It is your responsibility to ensure that they are sent/received on time. I highly recommend that you add yourself as a recipient of that message and keep a copy once it arrives as proof that it was sent on time.
Final Exam: The final exam will be conducted online via Blackboard and will have a different format from the midterm. Rather than write one essay and 10 identification terms, you will write two essays from a choice of three questions. The exam will become available under the Content tab in Blackboard at our scheduled time of 9:40 AM on Thursday May 14. You may take the exam at any time on the 14th, but all answers must be submitted by 11:59 PM. The exam has been designed to be completed in a regular 2 hour block, but I have built in an additional 2 hours of flex time if needed to accommodate unexpected interruptions and/or problems with internet access. Exceptions for additional time have already been entered for those students who qualify for learning accommodations. While you can manually save and submit your answers as soon as you are finished with the exam, once time ends your exam will be automatically submitted. Please note that answers must be typed into the box on Blackboard; cutting and pasting material has been disabled. Since I have to assume that you will be using your notes when writing those essays, I will be expecting more complete and more detailed answers. If you encounter any problems let me know as soon as possible so that we can work out a solution.
Grades: I have reactivated the My Grades function in Blackboard (left side of the screen) and will be using that as the primary means of communicating assignment grades to you. Please note that it is not set up to calculate final grades. I will also scan those exams and papers which were not collected before campus closed and will email those back to you so that you can see my comments. All future assignments will be submitted electronically and will be emailed back with grades and comments added.
Office Hours: While you are always free to email your questions/concerns, I will also be holding virtual office hours at the usual times (Tuesdays 3:00-4:00 and Wednesdays 10:00-12:00). During virtual office hours I will regularly check e-mail and will set up video chat or telephone consultations on request.
Original Syllabus
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a survey of global development from the dawn of civilization through the onset of the so-called Age of Discovery (circa 1500). Although we will of necessity be looking at regional political and social changes, emphasis will also be placed on global interactions in the arenas of culture, technological innovation, ecological change, and belief systems.
REQUIREMENTS
Academic misconduct (including cheating and plagiarism) will not be tolerated. Buffalo State College policies on academic misconduct, including the possible use of textual similarity detection software, are outlined on page 48 of the college catalog. Please note that the minimum penalty for cases of academic misconduct will be an F on the assignment.
Reading assignments are to be completed by the dates given. In addition to graded discussions, there will also be a midterm and a final examination. Students are required to provide their own blank examination booklets (available in the bookstore) for each exam. Please note that in order to earn more than a B on the essay portion of the exams you must make use of the relevant assigned readings and historical documents. In addition students will write two 5 page papers on assigned topics. All papers must conform to the History Style Sheet. Detailed instructions on the writing assignments, including the style sheet, can be found in Blackboard or by clicking the syllabi and course materials links at http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/oroszkj. Go to https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student for Blackboard help.
Please note that in order to pass this course you must make a good faith attempt to complete all components and requirements. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR ARRANGEMENT. Incompletes will be granted at the sole discretion of the instructor and require a written application outlining the rationale behind granting the incomplete, a list of outstanding assignments and a timetable for their completion. This application must be signed and, if granted, will constitute a formal contract for the completion of the course.
Grades will be computed as follows:
Midterm Exam 25% Final Exam 25%
First paper 15% Discussion 20%
Second paper 15%
DISCUSSION:
In addition to periodic classroom discussions, there will also be online discussions conducted through Blackboard. Log into Blackboard and open the page for this course. Click on the Content tab, open the Discussions folder, and click on the link for your discussion group. Once your group opens, click on the Group Discussions Link under Group Tools. Double click on the link for the relevant discussion forum and then the name of the thread to open it. After you have read the
questions, click on the reply button and type your response in the text box. Don’t forget to click the submit button in the lower right of your screen or your message will be lost.
You will need to log into Blackboard several times during each scheduled week of online discussions to read new postings from your group and add your own postings. To read and respond to posts open the thread and either scroll through all entries or click on the “unread” button in the upper right corner to navigate straight to any new posts. Please note that discussions will be open for one week only; once they are locked, you will still be able to read the various posts in the discussion, but you will not be able to add any further comments. Keep in mind that this is a discussion and as such requires active, thoughtful and detailed participation. You must remain respectful of others’ opinions, comments and responses. Your comments must also be legible and understandable. This means full sentences, minimal abbreviations and no emoticons.
BOOKS The following books are required reading and are available in the campus bookstore:
McKay et al, Understanding World Societies, vol 1 ISBN 978-1-319-00837-6
Gainty and Ward, Sources of World Societies, vol 1 ISBN 978-0-312-47551-2
Xinru Liu, The Silk Road ISBN 978-0-312-56970-9
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS:
Supplemental readings (indicated in italics on the syllabus) can be accessed in one of 3 ways: 1) if it is a website, there will be a link to it from the electronic version of the syllabus available in Blackboard or on my web page at http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/oroszkj 2) Journal articles listed below can be accessed via the library’s Academic Search Complete or JSTOR databases; 3) highlighted readings are available in Blackboard under the Content tab.
“Aztec Child Rearing,” in Bonnie Smith et al, Sources of Crossroads and Cultures vol 1 (New York: Bedford/St Martins, 2012), 321-323.
Vern Bullough, Brenda Shelton, and Sarah Slavin, “Formation of Western Attitudes Toward Women,” in The Social Dimension of Western Civilization 5th ed, ed. Richard Golden (NY: Bedford St Martin’s, 2003), 4-15.
C. A. F. Davids, “Psalms of Buddhist Nuns” Sarah Shaver Hughes and Brady Hughes, Women in World History vol 1. (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1995), 56-61.
James Davidson, “Women and Boys in Classical Athens,” in The Social Dimension of Western Civilization 5th ed, ed. Richard Golden (NY: Bedford St Martin’s, 2003), 67-86.
Suzanne Dixon, “Roman Marriage,” in The Social Dimension of Western Civilization 5th ed, ed. Richard Golden (NY: Bedford St Martin’s, 2003), 87-106.
Margaret Ehrenberg, “Who Invented Farming,” in Sarah Shaver Hughes and Brady Hughes, Women in World History vol 1. (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1995), 16-20.
David Herlihy, “Medieval Children,” in The Social Dimension of Western Civilization 5th ed, ed. Richard Golden (NY: Bedford St Martin’s, 2003), 174-189.
Nikki Keddie, “The Past and Present of Women in the Muslim World,” Journal of World History 1 (1990): 77-108.
Pan Ku, “The Regency of Empress Lu,” in Sarah Shaver Hughes and Brady Hughes, Women in World History vol 1. (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1995), 98-104.
Livy, “Roman Women Protest Against the Oppian Law,” in Bonnie Smith et al, Sources of Crossroads and Cultures vol 1 (New York: Bedford/St Martins, 2012), 114-118.
Isaac Mendelsohn, “Slavery in the Ancient Near East,” in The Social Dimension of Western Civilization 5th ed, ed. Richard Golden (NY: Bedford St Martin’s, 2003), 16-26.
Piye, “The Nubian Conquest of Egypt,” in Bonnie Smith et al, Sources of Crossroads and Cultures vol 1 (New York: Bedford/St Martins, 2012), 64-67.
Michael Rocke, “Gender and Sexual Culture in Renaissance Italy,” in The Social Dimension of Western Civilization 5th ed, ed. Richard Golden (NY: Bedford St Martin’s, 2003), 219-233.
CLASS SCHEDULE
January 28 Introduction
January 30 Paleolithic and Origins of Agriculture
McKay Ch 1; Ward and Gainty pp. 1-10;
Ehrenberg, “Who Invented Farming?”
February 4 Mesopotamian Civilization
McKay Ch 2; Ward and Gainty pp. 17-28
February 6 Egypt
Ward and Gainty pp. 28-36; Dayr al Madinah;
Funerary Equipment pages 1-5
Blackboard discussion begins
February 11 Ancient Middle East
Ward and Gainty, pp. 36-46;
Bullough et al, “Formation of Western Attitudes”
Mendelsohn, “Slavery in the Ancient Near East”
February 13 Indus River Valley and Aryan Migrations
McKay Ch 3; Ward and Gainty pp 47-69;
Davids, “Psalms of Buddhist Nuns”
February 18 Yellow River Valley Civilization
McKay Ch 4; Ward and Gainty pp. 70-89; Liu 84-99
February 20 Early Civilizations in the Americas
McKay pp. 264-276; Ward and Gainty pp. 226-229, 237-243
February 25 The Greek Polis
McKay Ch 5; Ward and Gainty pp. 10-16, 90-100;
Pericles Funeral Oration; Davidson, “Women and Boys in Athens”
February 27 Alexander the Great and the Spread of Hellenism
Ward and Gainty pp. 100-115
First paper due
March 3 Roman Republic
McKay Ch 6; Ward and Gainty pp. 116-124;
Livy, “Roman Women Protest Oppian Law”
Blackboard discussion begins
March 5 Imperial Rome
Ward and Gainty, pp. 124-140; Liu pp. 51-83; Dixon, “Roman Marriage”
March 10 Religion and Trade in the Ancient World
Ward and Gainty pp. 131-140; Liu pp. 1-33; Religion in the Ancient World
March 12 Midterm
March 17 Early African Empires: Kush, Meroe and Axum
Ward and Gainty pp. 205-208; Piye, “Nubian Conquest of Egypt;”
Accounts of Meroe, Kush & Axum
March 19 Byzantine Empire
McKay Ch 8; Ward and Gainty pp. 163-178; Liu pp. 120-132
Blackboard discussion begins
March 24 No Class
March 26 No Class
March 31 China from Feudalism to Empire
McKay Ch 7; Ward and Gainty pp. 141-162; Liu pp. 37-50
Pan Ku, “Regency of Empress Lu;” Lessons for Women;
Family Instructions of Yan Clan
April 2 Imperial China
McKay Ch 13; Gainty pp. 268-289; Liu pp. 133-143
April 7 Rise of Islam
McKay Ch 9; Ward and Gainty pp. 183-204
April 9 The Mongols
McKay Ch 12; Ward and Gainty pp. 244-267; Liu pp. 100-119
Mongol Contributions; Mongol Trade part 1; part 2
April 14 The Ottoman Empire
Liu 144-151; Keddie, “Past and Present”
Blackboard discussion begins
April 16 Aztecs and Incas
McKay pp. 276-289; Ward and Gainty pp. 229-236; Aztec Child Rearing
April 21 Medieval Africa
McKay Ch 10; Ibn Batuta on Mali
April 23 Christian Ethiopia and the Swahili States
Ward and Gainty pp. 208-225; Great Zimbabwe
April 28 Carolingian Europe
McKay Ch 14; Ward and Gainty pp. 179-182, 290-292
April 30 Medieval Europe and the Crusades
Ward and Gainty pp., 293-312; Herlihy, “Medieval Children”
May 5 The European Renaissance
McKay pp. 376-389; Ward and Gainty pp. 313-329
Rocke, “Gender and Sexual Culture”
Second paper due
May 7 Trade and Exchange in the Medieval World
McKay pp. 406-422; Ward and Gainty pp. 338-349; Liu 152-169
May 14 Final Exam 9:40-11:30
Guidelines for Writing Assignments
While your papers will be graded primarily on content, grammatical accuracy, style, presentation and organization will also be taken into account. All papers are required to adhere to the History Style Sheet which is available in Blackboard and on my web site under the Style Sheet link. Failure to follow the style sheet will result in significant penalties; these consist of at least the loss of a full letter grade for each category of violation (i.e. use of contractions will cost you a letter grade, reducing an A paper to a B). This includes paper length, non-standard fonts, margins and line spacing. Please note that a short paper is not necessarily a bad paper; I am primarily interested in what you have to say, how well you say it and if you have developed your thesis and argument sufficiently.
As you write your papers feel free to paraphrase or quote suitable passages that illustrate your points. However, if you quote or paraphrase, you must cite the relevant passage. You must also cite detailed information (i.e. statistics or items that are not common knowledge). Proper citation formats can be found in the History Style Sheet. Please note that in addition to enforcing Buffalo State College’s policies on academic misconduct, including the possible use of textual similarity detection software, the minimum penalty for plagiarism is an F on the assignment. For more information on plagiarism, how to footnote, or how to write a research paper consult the relevant sections of Benjamin’s A Student’s Guide to History. If you are still unclear about when or how to cite please come see me during my office hours. That is why I am there.
Since much of what is out on the internet is of dubious quality, the use of web pages as source material is strictly forbidden unless authorized by me in writing. The only exceptions to this rule are the individual web sites that I have assigned as required reading material. Use of Wikipedia in particular is expressly forbidden. On a similar note, the use of encyclopedias is also forbidden. While they may be useful reference tools or for providing an overview of a particular topic, encyclopedias have no place in college level work. Articles in historical encyclopedias (i.e. The Encyclopedia of European Social History) may be acceptable, but must first be cleared by me in writing.
I am obviously a firm believer in written assignments since they help develop your organizational, analytical and communication skills, all of which are things you will need in the workplace. Consequently, I expect you to treat all graded assignments (in this or any other class) as preparations for your future career. Turning in business reports that are filled with grammatical errors, failures in logic, poor argumentation and lack of evidence portrays a degree of incompetence, even if it is undeserved, and will probably get you fired. Get in the habit now of proofreading your work to catch typos, misspellings and nonsensical statements. Read your papers aloud to see how they sound. Better still, have a friend or roommate read your work since they are more likely to notice any problems. Most of you will be writing your papers on wordprocessors. No matter what program you use, they all have spell checkers. It is silly and self-defeating not to make use of them.
While I do not allow rewrites once papers have been graded, I will read and comment on rough drafts if I am given enough time. Alternatively, you may want to consult either the campus writing center or some of the history tutors for help or advice. Keep your notes and copies of your paper to facilitate rewrites and to safeguard against loss, computer errors, random destruction by pets and similar catastrophes. Finally, and most importantly, if you are having any problems in this course come see me.
Paper Instructions
All students will write two 5 page (1500 words) papers on topics to be assigned. As you will discover, 5 pages provides barely enough room to introduce a topic, let alone go into much detail. Hence, your papers should have a narrowly defined thesis and must be very selective in their use and presentation of supporting evidence or examples. Since these papers are so short, keep quotations to a minimum so that you have enough room to develop your own thoughts and arguments. To strengthen your argument(s) your papers should draw upon and cite specific historical examples as well as corroborating evidence. There is ample material on which to base your papers in my lectures and your assigned readings; outside research, although always welcome, is not required.
First Paper Topic (due February 27)
Far too often women in the ancient world were either ignored by historians or were treated as inconsequential, powerless, or marginal figures. How accurate is this depiction? What were some of the roles filled by women in the ancient world? In what ways did these women exercise power and influence within their respective societies?
Second Paper Topic (due May 5)
What factors facilitated and/or hindered the emergence of long distance trade networks in late antiquity and the medieval periods? How did the existence of these trading networks impact cultural and technological diffusion?