HISTORY 1C
World History (Fall 2000)
Office Hours:
Department of History T TR 9:30-10:30; R 3:30-4-30;W1-2
and by appointment
Office phone: 898-4202
Home phone: 893-5095
"Whether we consider the position of the rock layers that envelope
the earth, the arrangement of the forms of life that inhabit it, the variety
of civilizations to which it has given birth, or the structure of the languages
spoken upon it, we are forced to the same conclusion: That everything is
the sum of the past, and that nothing is comprehensible except through
its history."--Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Course Schedule:
Week by week listing of lecture topics, reading assignments, and recommended
films. View
schedule.
Course Description:
The purpose of this introductory general education course is to provide
an overview of the history of the human community from the French Revolution
through the twentieth century. In particular we will examine major issues
that have made the world we live in today, as well as the impact of Western
culture and power on the peoples of Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and the
Americas. We will do so in order to think globally and compassionately
about the problems that plague us as we enter the twenty-first century.
Global events and the common needs of all humanity are joining diverse
cultures and societies to form one world civilization in a shrinking, fragile,
and interdependent world. It is my hope that each of you will leave this
course with a better understanding of the complex historical issues that
have shaped the modern world and have direct impact on the political, economic,
and ecological conditions of the world you live in and the one your children
will inherit.
Required Readings:
Adler, World Civilizations
Welborn, Primary Source Document Workbook
Chinua Achebe, Things
Fall Apart
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, One
Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
LeLy Hayslip, When
Heaven and Earth Changed Places
Mark Methabane, Kaffir
Boy
Students are also strongly encouraged to keep up with the world news by
reading newspapers that provide good international coverage, such as The
New York Times or The Christian Science Monitor. From time to
time discussions will be centered on the historical antecedents of current
affairs such as the global implications of Russia's political and economic
problems, redefining defense needs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, ethnic conflicts
in Kosovo, etc.
Course Requirements: The grade will be based on in-class
group quizzes, journal entries, participation, one mid-term exam and one
final exam. Except for extreme cases, late assignments will NOT be accepted
and no make-up quizzes will be given. These assignments are worth the
following percentage of your final grade:
Quizzes 20%
Journal 20%
Midterm exams 40%
Final 20%
Lectures and discussions are designed to supplement, clarify, and complement
reading assignments. Please read all assignments before coming to class.
You are urged to attend all class meetings and are responsible for any
material, announcements, and course changes covered in class. See attached
sheet for journal directions. |