History 195: Expansion of Europe

Syllabus

Course Information

Instructor: David M. Perry
Class Times: T 8-9:25, Th 8-9:20
Location: RML 577
Office: 601B Holland Hall
Office Phone : (507) 646-3534
Office Hours : T and Th 9:30-10:30 A.M.(and by appt.)
Email : perry@stolaf.edu
URL : http://www.stolaf.edu/courses/2005sem2/History/195/

Course Description

In this class we will look at the European expansion into the Ottoman and Chinese spheres of influence, and into the Americas. We will use a text/sourcebook to provide us with both a broad overview and source material, delve into a few sources in depth (largely pertaining to the conquest of the Americas), and enhance our reading with several advanced pieces of scholarship. Class periods will be used both to examine texts in small-group and plenary discussion, and to provide broad historical context and narrative in the form of lectures.

You will be required to write many informal pieces, one formal essay, several tests, and one cumulative exam.

Required Texts

Discovering the Global Past, Volume II, M. Wiesner et al. (Wiesner)
Victors and Vanquished, S. Schwartz
Letters from Mexico, H. Cortes
Death of Woman Wang, J. Spence
Course packet and other readings

The Grade

Discussion Questions (15/17) - 15%
Formal Paper - 15%
2 Tests - 15% each
Final Exam - 20%
Zheng He assignment - 5%
Casta assignment - 5%
Participation - 10%

Course Requirements and Assignments

Discussion Questions - 15%
- On FIFTEEN of seventeen different class periods, you will be required to write three discussion questions and one paragraph answers for each question. The assignments should each be at least a page long.
- You will be graded pass/fail (S = satisfactory, U = unsatisfactory) on whether you have completed the assignment to a sufficient degree (we will discuss standards in class).
- You will frequently be asked to use your questions in large and small group discussions. Your ability to do so will affect your participation grade.
- Especially strong discussion questions and answers may also help your participation grade, as they will demonstrate that you were ready to participate.
- These papers are informal, but should be viewed as a chance to practice your writing. Therefore, these assignments are subject to the "Death List." If you make any of the mistakes listed, you will receive a "U" for the day.
Formal Paper - 15%
- This essay, of at least 1000 words, will be on the book The Death of Woman Wang. More information will be provided in class. Due Thursday, 23 Mar
Two Tests - 15% each
- Each test will have identifications, textual analysis, and short-answer questions covering approximately one-third of the class.

Th 2 Mar - Test #1
T 25 Apr - Test #2

Final Exam - 20%
- An exam in two parts. The first part will examine the material from the last third of class. The second part will ask one or more essay questions on the entirety of the course.
- Date and time TBA
Zheng He exercise - 5%
- Assignment - online exercise on Zheng He. More information forthcoming.
- Due February 28
Casta painting exercise - 5%
- Assignment on a series of paintings from colonial Mexico. More information forthcoming.
- Due April 20
Participation (and attendance) - 12%
- Participation is more than just showing up, but it starts with just showing up. You cannot participate if you are not here. I will take attendance every day. Unexcused absences will weigh heavily against your participation grade.
  - Excused absences - severe illness with doctor's note, death in the family, acts of God, or legitimate St. Olaf activities (i.e., choir tour, concert, sports event) will obviously not incur any direct penalty. However, if you aren't here, you cannot participate, so you will need to work hard to make up for any classes missed legitimately. You are responsible for catching up on material missed by consulting both me and your peers.
- But participation is about more than just showing up. It's about doing the reading, being prepared to talk about it, volunteering your input, being involved in your group work, preparing for the debates and other discussions, and generally being an asset to the class as a whole. We will have a variety of ways in which you can participate, but none matter more than being an active member in our small-group and full-class discussions.
- Your participation is a large percent of your grade. You will need to earn it. Take initiative. Do not expect to speak only when directly called upon and ace this section of the class.
- Finally, being late consistently may be counted as being absent. It will certainly lower your participation grade.

Course Policies

Follow the St. Olaf Code of Student Conduct. If you are unsure about whether something is plagiarism or cheating, ask first.
No assignment, under any circumstances, will be accepted by fax or email.
Students must bring readings to class on the day they are assigned. Print out online materials.
Informal writing assignments will not be accepted late as they exist to stimulate your pre-class thought and to aid in discussion.
Formal writing assignments and examinations are due at the beginning of class. DO NOT EVER SKIP CLASS TO TRY AND FINISH YOUR PAPER. Printing errors and lost data are a fact of the computer age. If you wait until the last minute and encounter technical difficulties, your paper may still be counted as late.
For every day a paper or project is late, you lose one full grade per day (A to B, B to C, etc.). Do not test this system. Turn your work in on time. Stapled. With your name on every page. Typed. Double-spaced. In a reasonable font.

Calendar of readings and assignments

Please see the calendar page on the website for the most up to date assignments. Anything on that page should be considered the final word on what is due. Everything on the syllabus is subject to change. I reserve the right to add readings or take them away as necessary (every class is unique and has its own pace).

Introduction

T 7 Feb - Intro - World History to 1450

Ottomans and Europeans

Th 9 Feb - Fall of Constantinople, 1453
- Reading: Sources on 1453. (Handouts)
- Assignment: D-1
T 14 Feb - The Ottoman Empire
- Reading:
  - Hess - "Evolution of the Ottoman Seabourne Empire" (handout)
  - Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, "The Turkish Letters" (handout)
  - The Janissaries (handout)
- Assignment: D- 2
Th 16 Feb - No class!
T 21 Feb - Ottomans and Portuguese in the East
- Reading
  - Read all, prepare one: (assigned in class) Assignment: D-3
    - 1. Russell, "Prince Henry the Navigator" (packet)
    - 2. Unger, "Portuguese Shipbuilding" (packet)
    - 3. Beckingham, "Quest for Prester John" (packet)
    - 4. Chaundhuri, "Containment of Islam" (packet)
  - AND
    - Sidi Ali Reis, "The Mirror of Countries" (packet) with Assignment: D-4
Th 23 Feb - 1492
- Reading: Columbus, Expulsion of the Jews, Conquest of Granada (course packet)
- Assignment: D-5
- Studyguide - Test #1

Meanwhile, in China

T 28 Feb - Zheng He and Ming Expansion
- Reading: Kuei-Sheng Chang, "Ming Maritime Enterprise" (packet)
- Assignment: Online Zheng He Exercise

Th 2 Mar - Test #1

Concepts

T 7 Mar - Village and State
- Reading: Wiesner, 1-33
- Assignment: D-6
Th 9 Mar - Gender Differences
- Reading: Wiesner, 62-91
- Assignment: D-7
T 14 Mar - Confucian Family
- Reading: Wiesner, 125-157
- Assignment: D-8
Th 16 Mar - Case study
- The Death of Woman Wang: Preface, Chapters I, IV, V and Epilogue. Skim chapter 3 so you know who is who. (But your lives will be enriched if you just read the whole thing!)
- Guest Professor - Bob Entenmann

European Context - the 16th-17th centuries

T 21 Mar - Renaissance
- Readings: "A Global Renaissance" - Brotton (packet)
- Assignment: D-9
Th 23 Mar - Reformation and the Wars of Religion
- Reading: Luther's Theses
- Paper due: Paper on the Death of Woman Wang

SPRING BREAK

Spanish Expansion

T 4 Apr - Consequences of Columbus
- Reading: Schwartz, 1-74 (second half will be divided up to some extent)
- Assignment: D-10
Th 6 Apr - NO CLASS. Field trip scheduled to James Ford Bell Library (tba)
T 11 Apr - In Cortes' words
- Reading: Letters from Mexico, Letter 2, 48-159
- Assignment: D-11
- Guest Professor - J. Delaney
Th 13 Apr - Other perspectives
- Reading: Schwartz: 123-155, 156-181, 182-213 (divided into three groups)
- Assignment: D-12
T 18 Apr - Aftermath
- Reading: Schwartz, 214-244
- Assignment: D-13
Th 20 Apr - Stereotypes
- Reading: Wiesner, 34-61
- Assignment: Casta paintings

T 25 Apr - Test #2

Trade: Dutch and English

Th 27 Apr - Sugar
- Reading: Wiesner, 92-124.
Assignment: D-14
T 2 May - Dutch and English Merchants
- Reading:
  - Das Gupta, "Maritime Trade of Indonesia" (packet)
  - Selected primary sources (handouts or online. TBA)
- Assignment: D-15

Slavery

Th 4 May - African and European Slavery before the Atlantic African slave trade
- Reading
  - Slavery in Africa (reading TBA)
  - Beckles, "White proto-slavery," (packet)
- Assignment: D-16
T 9 May - The Atlantic Slave Trade
- Reading: Morgan - Atlantic Slavery (handout). Also Islam, Archaeology and Slavery in Africa (jstor, download and print)
- Assignment: D-17

The Path to European Hegemony

Th 11 May - Final class. - Tea and the Opium War
- Reading: TBA

Saturday May 13Field Trip to James Ford Bell Library

Final Exam - Saturday, May 20, 9:00-11:00 a.m. R. 577.


Syllabus Course Information Instructor: David M. Perry Class Times: T 8-9:25, Th 8-9:20 Location: RML 577 Office: 601B Holland Hall Office Phone : (507) 646-3534 Office Hours : T and Th 9:30-10:30 A.M.(and by appt.) Email : perry@stolaf.edu URL : http://www.stolaf.edu/courses/2005sem2/History/195/ Course Description In this class we will look at the European expansion into the Ottoman and Chinese spheres of influence, and into the Americas. We will use a text/sourcebook to provide us with both a broad overview and source material, delve into a few sources in depth (largely pertaining to the conquest of the Americas), and enhance our reading with several advanced pieces of scholarship. Class periods will be used both to examine texts in small-group and plenary discussion, and to provide broad historical context and narrative in the form of lectures. You will be required to write many informal pieces, one formal essay, several tests, and one cumulative exam. Required Texts Discovering the Global Past, Volume II, M. Wiesner et al. (Wiesner) Victors and Vanquished, S. Schwartz Letters from Mexico, H. Cortes Death of Woman Wang, J. Spence Course packet and other readings The Grade Discussion Questions (15/17) - 15% Formal Paper - 15% 2 Tests - 15% each Final Exam - 20% Zheng He assignment - 5% Casta assignment - 5% Participation - 10% Course Requirements and Assignments Discussion Questions - 15% On FIFTEEN of seventeen different class periods, you will be required to write three discussion questions and one paragraph answers for each question. The assignments should each be at least a page long. You will be graded pass/fail (S = satisfactory, U = unsatisfactory) on whether you have completed the assignment to a sufficient degree (we will discuss standards in class). You will frequently be asked to use your questions in large and small group discussions. Your ability to do so will affect your participation grade. Especially strong discussion questions and answers may also help your participation grade, as they will demonstrate that you were ready to participate. These papers are informal, but should be viewed as a chance to practice your writing. Therefore, these assignments are subject to the "Death List." If you make any of the mistakes listed, you will receive a "U" for the day. Formal Paper - 15% This essay, of at least 1000 words, will be on the book The Death of Woman Wang. More information will be provided in class. Due Thursday, 23 Mar Two Tests - 15% each Each test will have identifications, textual analysis, and short-answer questions covering approximately one-third of the class. Th 2 Mar - Test #1 T 25 Apr - Test #2 Final Exam - 20% An exam in two parts. The first part will examine the material from the last third of class. The second part will ask one or more essay questions on the entirety of the course. Date and time TBA Zheng He exercise - 5% Assignment - online exercise on Zheng He. More information forthcoming. Due February 28 *Casta* painting exercise - 5% Assignment on a series of paintings from colonial Mexico. More information forthcoming. Due April 20 Participation (and attendance) - 12% Participation is more than just showing up, but it starts with just showing up. You cannot participate if you are not here. I will take attendance every day. Unexcused absences will weigh heavily against your participation grade. Excused absences - severe illness with doctor's note, death in the family, acts of God, or legitimate St. Olaf activities (i.e., choir tour, concert, sports event) will obviously not incur any direct penalty. However, if you aren't here, you cannot participate, so you will need to work hard to make up for any classes missed legitimately. You are responsible for catching up on material missed by consulting both me and your peers. But participation is about more than just showing up. It's about doing the reading, being prepared to talk about it, volunteering your input, being involved in your group work, preparing for the debates and other discussions, and generally being an asset to the class as a whole. We will have a variety of ways in which you can participate, but none matter more than being an active member in our small-group and full-class discussions. Your participation is a large percent of your grade. You will need to earn it. Take initiative. Do not expect to speak only when directly called upon and ace this section of the class. Finally, being late consistently may be counted as being absent. It will certainly lower your participation grade. Course Policies Follow the St. Olaf Code of Student Conduct. If you are unsure about whether something is plagiarism or cheating, ask first. No assignment, under any circumstances, will be accepted by fax or email. Students must bring readings to class on the day they are assigned. Print out online materials. Informal writing assignments will not be accepted late as they exist to stimulate your pre-class thought and to aid in discussion. Formal writing assignments and examinations are due at the beginning of class. DO NOT EVER SKIP CLASS TO TRY AND FINISH YOUR PAPER. Printing errors and lost data are a fact of the computer age. If you wait until the last minute and encounter technical difficulties, your paper may still be counted as late. For every day a paper or project is late, you lose one full grade per day (A to B, B to C, etc.). Do not test this system. Turn your work in on time. Stapled. With your name on every page. Typed. Double-spaced. In a reasonable font. Calendar of readings and assignments Please see the calendar page on the website for the most up to date assignments. Anything on that page should be considered the final word on what is due. Everything on the syllabus is subject to change. I reserve the right to add readings or take them away as necessary (every class is unique and has its own pace). Introduction T 7 Feb - Intro - World History to 1450 Ottomans and Europeans Th 9 Feb - Fall of Constantinople, 1453 Reading: Sources on 1453. (Handouts) Assignment: D-1 T 14 Feb - The Ottoman Empire Reading: Hess - "Evolution of the Ottoman Seabourne Empire" (handout) Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, "The Turkish Letters" (handout) The Janissaries (handout) Assignment: D- 2 Th 16 Feb - No class! T 21 Feb - Ottomans and Portuguese in the East Reading Read all, prepare one: (assigned in class) Assignment: D-3 1. Russell, "Prince Henry the Navigator" (packet) 2. Unger, "Portuguese Shipbuilding" (packet) 3. Beckingham, "Quest for Prester John" (packet) 4. Chaundhuri, "Containment of Islam" (packet) AND Sidi Ali Reis, "The Mirror of Countries" (packet) with Assignment: D-4 Th 23 Feb - 1492 Reading: Columbus, Expulsion of the Jews, Conquest of Granada (course packet) Assignment: D-5 Studyguide - Test #1 Meanwhile, in China T 28 Feb - Zheng He and Ming Expansion Reading: Kuei-Sheng Chang, "Ming Maritime Enterprise" (packet) Assignment: Online Zheng He Exercise Th 2 Mar - Test #1 Concepts T 7 Mar - Village and State Reading: Wiesner, 1-33 Assignment: D-6 Th 9 Mar - Gender Differences Reading: Wiesner, 62-91 Assignment: D-7 T 14 Mar - Confucian Family Reading: Wiesner, 125-157 Assignment: D-8 Th 16 Mar - Case study The Death of Woman Wang: Preface, Chapters I, IV, V and Epilogue. Skim chapter 3 so you know who is who. (But your lives will be enriched if you just read the whole thing!) Guest Professor - Bob Entenmann European Context - the 16th-17th centuries T 21 Mar - Renaissance Readings: "A Global Renaissance" - Brotton (packet) Assignment: D-9 Th 23 Mar - Reformation and the Wars of Religion Reading: Luther's Theses Paper due: Paper on the Death of Woman Wang SPRING BREAK Spanish Expansion T 4 Apr - Consequences of Columbus Reading: Schwartz, 1-74 (second half will be divided up to some extent) Assignment: D-10 Th 6 Apr - NO CLASS. Field trip scheduled to James Ford Bell Library (tba) T 11 Apr - In Cortes' words Reading: Letters from Mexico, Letter 2, 48-159 Assignment: D-11 Guest Professor - J. Delaney Th 13 Apr - Other perspectives Reading: Schwartz: 123-155, 156-181, 182-213 (divided into three groups) Assignment: D-12 T 18 Apr - Aftermath Reading: Schwartz, 214-244 Assignment: D-13 Th 20 Apr - Stereotypes Reading: Wiesner, 34-61 Assignment: Casta paintings T 25 Apr - Test #2 Trade: Dutch and English Th 27 Apr - Sugar Reading: Wiesner, 92-124. Assignment: D-14 T 2 May - Dutch and English Merchants Reading: Das Gupta, "Maritime Trade of Indonesia" (packet) Selected primary sources (handouts or online. TBA) Assignment: D-15 Slavery Th 4 May - African and European Slavery before the Atlantic African slave trade Reading Slavery in Africa (reading TBA) Beckles, "White proto-slavery," (packet) Assignment: D-16 T 9 May - The Atlantic Slave Trade Reading: Morgan - Atlantic Slavery (handout). Also Islam, Archaeology and Slavery in Africa (jstor, download and print) Assignment: D-17 The Path to European Hegemony Th 11 May - Final class. - Tea and the Opium War Reading: TBA Saturday May 13Field Trip to James Ford Bell Library Final Exam - Saturday, May 20, 9:00-11:00 a.m. R. 577.
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This site last updated: 2/6/06 Comments to: David Perry Homepage URL: http://www.stolaf.edu/courses/2005sem2/History/195 © 2006 by David Perry and St. Olaf College. All rights reserved.