The purposes of this course are to introduce you to the history of the West from its beginnings to about 1500, and to introduce you to the discipline of historical inquiry. We will be using a textbook (TB), Michael Burger The Shaping of Western Civilization, which will provide the factual backbone of the course. We will also be reading and analyzing original sources from the accompanying sourcebook (SB). About half of our work in class will be informal, interactive lecture and discussion, to help clarify points in the textbook. The other half will be discussion of the sources, in which students will take a leading role.
Four examinations are scheduled during the semester in addition to a final examination, all of which will be designed to help you synthesize your learning for each segment of the course as you go along. Written work will consist of three short (2-3 pgs.) papers focused on one of the sources, spread out over the semester. Students will sign up for the day and the topic on which they wish to write, so that for each class period a number of you will have written on the sources assigned. These students will be expected to help lead discussion of the readings. PLEASE NOTE: There will be no opportunity for making up writing assignments if you fail to write a paper for the day assigned to you, except in the case of illness or emergency.
Since class discussion is an important component of this course, student attendance is essential. Absences may be excused in cases of illness or necessary travel, but please let me know before class time if you are going to be absent. Regular or frequent absences will result in your forfeiting part or, in extreme cases, all of your class grade, so if you're the kind of student who doesn't like coming to class, this course is not for you.
One last point: I will from time to time give you a brief quiz on the reading, which will figure into your discussion and attendance grade.
Grading will be calculated as follows: Examinations: 10% each, Final: 15%, Papers: 10% each, Discussion and Attendance: 15%
If you have a documented disability for which accommodations may be required in this class, please contact Ruth Bolstad (bolstadr@stolaf.edu ) or Connie Ford (ford@stolaf.edu) in the Academic Support Center (x3288) located in the Modular Village. If you already have documentation on file with Student Disability Services in the Academic Support Center you are required to present your letters to the professor within the first two weeks of class.
Finally, the college has a statement on academic integrity that is posted in the online version of "the book." The opening paragraph is as follows:
As a community dedicated to the principled pursuit of knowledge and truth, St. Olaf College regards integrity and honesty as foundational to all aspects of its communal life, including and especially academic endeavors. We understand academic integrity in terms of five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. St. Olaf thus expects of its students, faculty, and staff:
Please read this policy and take it to heart. You should also familiarize yourself with the honor system.
F Sep 9 Introduction
M Sep 12 TB: 1.1 Prehistory and the origins of civilization, 1.2 Egypt and Mesopotamia: government and culture; SB: 1. The Descent of Ishtar, 4. Inscription of Uni
W Sep 14 SB: 2. The Code of Hammurabi
F Sep 16 TB: 1.3 Polytheism and monotheism; SB: 3. The Enuma Elish, 6. Hymn to Aton, 7. First Book of Kings, 15-19
M Sep 19 SB: 8. Book of Job 1-14, 21-24, 38-42
W Sep 21 TB: 1.4 Problems of government, 1.5 The Near East and the Greeks: Mycenaean, Minoan, and Dark-Age Greece
F Sep 23 EXAM
M Sep 26 TB: 2.1 Fundamentals: an agonistic culture; SB: 9 Homer, The Iliad, pp. 69--87
W Sep 28 SB: 9 Homer, The Iliad, pp. 87--107
F Sep 30 TB: 2.2 The early polis, 2.3 Polis or Hellas?, 2.4 Changes in the polis: Archaic and Classical; SB: 10 Plutarch, Life of Solon
M Oct 3 TB: 2.5 Athens: Archaic and Classical, 2.6 Sparta: Archaic and Classical; SB: 11 Aristophanes, Lysistrata; Thucydides Pericles' Funeral Oration
W Oct 5 TB: 2.7 Philosophers and sophists, 2.8 Plato’s Republic; SB: 12 Plato, The Symposium, pp. 146--159 (up to the end of Agathon's speech); Thucydides Mitylinean Debate
F Oct 7 SB: 12 Plato, The Symposium, pp. 159--173; Thucydides Melian Dialogues
M Oct 10 TB: 2.9 The end of Classical Greece, and the Hellenistic world; SB: 13. Plutarch, Life of Alexander the Great
W Oct 12 EXAM
F Oct 14 TB: 3.1 Foundations: Rome’s early history, pietas, and the mos maiorum; 3.2 The Republic: structure and function
M Oct 17 OCTOBER BREAK
W Oct 19 TB: 3.3 Consequences of Empire I; constituencies for change, 3.4 Consequences of Empire II: the emergence of Graeco-Roman civilization, 3.5 Consequences of Empire III: the Republic unravels
F Oct 21 SB: 15. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters; 16. Quintus Cicero, Letter to His Brother
M Oct 24 TB: 3.6 Principate and empire, 3.7 Rome and its empire; SB: 17. Vergil, The Aeneid, pp. 232--269
W Oct 26 SB: 18. Augustus, The Deeds of the Divine Augustus; 19. Pliny the Younger, Letters; 20. Papyri from Oxyrhynchus 20.1, 20.3-7; 21. Inscription from Mactar
F Oct 28 NO CLASS
M Oct 31 EXAM
W Nov 2 TB: 4.1 The problem of the fall of Rome; 4.2 The crisis of the third century and its resolution
F Nov 4 TB: 4.3 Christians and Romans; SB: 22. Book of Matthew 3-9.32; 23. John, Book of Revelation 15-20; 24. Perpetua and Others, The Martyrdom of Saint Perpetua
M Nov 7 SB: 25. Augustine, Confessions, pp. 310--326 (up to Book 10)
W Nov 9 TB: 4.4 Barbarians and Romans; SB: 26. Tacitus, De Germania, pp. 335--342 (up to section 28); 27. Sidonius Apollinaris, Letters
F Nov 11 SB: 28. Benedict of Nursia, The Rule, Prologue and sections 1-8, 19-33, 36-37, 39-40, 43-46, 53-54, 58-59, 64, 68-73.
M Nov 14 TB: 4.5 The Franks; 4.6 Islam and the West; 4.7 The Carolingian empire; SB: 30. Einhard, Life of Charlemagne
W Nov 16 TB: 4.8 The collapse of the Carolingian empire and its aftermath, ca. 850-ca. 1050; 4.9 A feudal society: The West ca. 850-ca. 1000; SB: 31. The Dooms of King Alfred
F Nov 18 EXAM
M Nov 21 TB: 5.1 Fundamentals: Christendom, economic growth, and a society of orders, estates, and corporations; 5.2 Christendom: expansion and reform; SB: 32. Gregory VII, Henry IV, and the German Bishops, Documents
W Nov 23—F Nov 25 THANKSGIVING BREAK
M Nov 28 SB: 33. Speech of Urban II at the Council of Clermont: Two Accounts; 34. Two Letters from Crusaders; 35. Marie de France, Eliduc
W Nov 30 TB: 5.3 The rise of government; 5.4 Church versus Crown in the High Middle Ages; 5.5 Limiting government; SB: 36. Magna Carta; 37. Canons of the Fourth Lateran Council, canons 1-3, 7, 13-18, 31-32, 46, 51, 67-68
F Dec 2 TB: 5.6 Reason, nature, and the self; SB: 39. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, I.3-13, II.2, III.81-121, 123, 126
M Dec 5 TB: 5.7 The Late Middle Ages: demographic shock and its impact; SB: 40. Ralph of Shrewsbury, Letter; 41. City Officials of Cologne, Letter; 42. The Statute of Laborers; 43. English Statute of 1363 on Food and Clothing
W Dec 7 SB: 44. Catherine of Siena, Dialogue, paragraphs 55-61, 64, 90, 99-100; 45. Barduccio di Piero Canigiani, Letter
F Dec 9 TB: 5.8 A Renaissance? SB: 46. Petrarch, Letters of Familiar Intercourse
M Dec 12 SB: 47. Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince; 48. Desiderius Erasmus, Letters 48.3 To Pope Leo X
Sa Dec 17 2:00—4:00 a.m. FINAL EXAM
Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: August 18, 2011