History 101: Western Civilization                                  Syllabus: Fall  2005

 

Rev. Michael B. Sullivan, CSC

Office hours: Mon/Wed: 11:30-2:00/3:15-4:00; Tue/Thu: 2:30-3:30

Phone: 239 8419

 

I.  Course description, goals, objectives

 

The primary purpose of this course is to examine many aspects of ancient and medieval history. Besides consideration of political activities and institutions, attention will be given as well to significant intellectual, social, cultural and religious changes which occurred during these periods. Special emphasis will be placed on the Classical, Germanic, and Christian elements which contributed to the emergence of a unique Western European world. The contributions of Islamic and Byzantine cultures will also be studied.

 

Since this is a survey course, the student, besides acquiring a broad knowledge of the past, will by researching, analyzing and evaluating primary and secondary sources develop an ability to accurately and critically read, weigh evidence, make judgments, draw conclusions, and interpret historical writings in their political, social, religious, moral, and cultural contexts and to clearly, cogently, and concisely express in writing these findings and insights.

 

The material to be covered in the semester will includes the following: Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, Classical World of Greece and Rome, Roman Empire and Christianity, Medieval Eastern World of the Byzantine Empire and Islam, High Middle Ages, Feudalism and Church Reform, Crusades, Late Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation.

 

II. Required texts

 

The primary text for the course is Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics and Society, Vol. I, by Marvin Perry, 7th edition. It will be referred to in the Syllabus as T.

 

The book of outside (but required) readings for the course is

Sources of Western Tradition, Vol. I, by Marvin Perry, 5th.

edition. It will be referred to in the Syllabus as S.

 

III.Course requirements and grade calculation basis

 

1) three exams(10% each) plus the final exam(10%) which will be cumulative. Exams will contain essay and/or objective types of questions. Check the Syllabus for the exam schedule.

 

2) two short papers(10% each). See below for further elaboration.

Check the Syllabus for paper schedule.

 

3) daily(20) quizzes(2% each) containing objective type  questions.

 

            4) daily(20) one page resumes(1/10% each) analyzing, summarizing,

critiquing, and drawing conclusions based on evidence from primary sources taken from daily reading assignments and materials given in class.

 

 

 


 

           

 

 

 

 

            The papers will be four page essays on assigned topics related to

course material.

 

Source material for essays include scholarly books and articles from journals, magazines. The bibliography for each essay must contain at least three sources, primary or secondary, from published books

 

Depth, quality, and organization of thought, expression, and research will be among the chief factors in determining the grades of these essays, together with spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness.

 

Papers must be turned in on the due date or earlier unless explicit exemption has been obtained from the professor.  Failure to submit papers on time will result in the reduction of the grade by half a letter per day.  Papers submitted a week or more late will receive an F grade.

 

It is strongly recommended that every student make an appointment with the professor after the first paper has been graded and returned and before the next one is due so as to discuss merits of the first and the means for improving the second essay.

 

           

            Essay topics and due dates

 

                       

                        Essay One: due class 9

 

How the Hebrew Sacred Scriptures constitutes a library of ancient literature

 

                                   

                        Essay Two: due class 21

 

How the Christian Bible influenced Western civilization

 

IV. Class attendance

 

Students are expected to attend all classes: daily quizzes (2 points each) will be administered at the beginning of virtually every class.

No make-up quizzes will be provided for those who are absent from class or who miss the quiz because of tardiness.

Unless explicit permission is given by the professor early departures from class will be counted as an absence

 

Exemptions from the final exam will be granted to 2 categories of students:

 

   1) those with perfect attendance records(zero absences);

 

   2) those with A- averages(90+) at the end of the semester and not more than two class        absences.

 

V. Academic honesty policy

 

           Holy Cross College expects honesty from all students in their

           academic work. Refer to the student handbook for information

           regarding the college’s academic honesty policy.

 

                                                           

 

 

                                                            Syllabus

(All assignments are listed for the day they are due)

 

 

Class               Date                 Assignment

 

 

 

1.                     8/23 Tu            Introduction

 

2.                     8/25 Th            T 5-17

                                                S 3-7                Epic of Gilgamesh

 

3.                     8/30 Tu            T 17-30

                                                S 15-16            Hymn to Aton

 

4.                     9/01 Th            T 34-41

                                                S 38-39            The Covenant/Ten Commandments

 

5.                     9/06 Tu            T 41-48

                                                S 42-43            Social Justice/Peace and ….

 

6.                     9/08 Th            T 51-62

                                                S 48-50            The Iliad

 

7.                     9/13 Tu            T 62-72

                                                S 68-70            Funeral Oration…

 

8.                     9/15 Th            T 75-89

                                                S 76-80            The Apology

 

9.                     9/20 Tu            T 89-99

                                                S 59-64            Antigone

                                                PAPER DUE TODAY

 

10.                   9/22 Th            T 103-117

                                                S 95-98            Jewish Resistance…/Appreciation of ….

                                                EXAM I

 

11.                   9/27 Tu            T 120-132

                                                S 100-102        The Roman Army

 

12.                   9/29 Th            T 132-139

                                                S 122-125        Justifying…/Moral Deterioration…

 

13.                   10/04 Tu          T 142-158

                                                S 128-131        The Achievements…/The Imposition…

 

14.                   10/06 Th          T 158-169       

                                                S 159-162        Political…/The Fate…/The End of…

 

15.                   10/11 Tu          T 172-184

                                                S 171-172        What Has Jerusalem…/In Defense…

 

16.                   10/13 Th          T 184-194

                                                S 190-192        The City of God

 

 

 

17.                   10/25 Tu          T 199-210

                                                S 192-193        The City  of God

 

18.                   10/27 Th          T 210-226

                                                S 212-214        Charlemagne’s…/An Injunction…

 

19.                   11/01 Tu          T 229-241

                                                S 215-216        Commendation…/Obligations

                                                EXAM II

 

20.                   11/03 Th          T 241-256

                                                S 226-229        The Second Letter

 

21.                   11/08 Tu          T 259-270

                                                S 239-241        Summa Theologica

                                                PAPER DUE TODAY

 

22.                   11/10 Th          T 270-277

                                                S 261-262        Policraticus

 

23.                   11/15 Tu          T 280-295

                                                S 274-278        The Divine Comedy

 

24.                   11/17 Th          T 301-311

                                                S 291-294        The Prince

 

25.                   11/22 Tu          T 311-321

                                                S 295-298        Art and Science

 

26.                   11/29 Tu          T 324-343                               

                                                S 310-314        On Papal Power

 

27.                   12/01 Th          EXAM III

                                               

28.                   12/06 Tu          T 343-346

                                                S 324-326        Canons and Decrees

 

29.                   12/08 Th          Conclusion

 

 

FINAL EXAM AS SCHEDULED BY THE COLLEGE

 

 

Resume Format  (One Page)

1. Your name/class number

 

2. Name of article

 

3. Data about author of article:

                name of author

                date of birth and death

                place of origin

                profession

 

4. Main point(author’s) of article: one sentence

 

5. 3 clarifying/supporting ideas: one sentence

 

6. Your assessment of author’s position: one sentence