HST 132: World History II                                                                 Winter 2010 (102)

SCI 102                                                                                               MWF 1-1:50pm

Instructor:  Dr. Ilicia Sprey                          
E-mail:  ilicias@saintjoe.edu
Office:  Core 258                                           
Office Phone 219-866-6387
Office Hours:  MWF:  11-11:50 and 2-2:50 and by appointment; Saint Elizabeth’s School of Nursing TR 5-6pm and after class as needed       
Homepage:  http://www.saintjoe.edu/~ilicias/

Books:

Course Description:  The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the tremendous level of interactivity and influence between various cultures, civilizations, and peoples from approximately 1400 to the present day.  In the West we have a bad tendency towards euro-centricism – that all good things stemmed from Europe and Europeans and that all other peoples benefit most from the adoption of our culture’s ideas and achievements.  In fact, one thing you will learn this semester through readings and discussions is how independent of European interaction and intervention, peoples in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa developed highly sophisticated systems of trade, social organization, religious beliefs, philosophies, and political and economic systems, and of course tremendously impressive forms of art and architecture and scientific achievements.   This course is not about demeaning or downplaying the achievements of the West, but offering you a more balanced and historically accurate portrait and understanding of how the world we know today developed over time and the various groups who influenced that development. 

Course Objectives:  Upon the completion of this course students should be able to:

1.  Reach a basic understanding of the characteristic features of World History in the period from circa 1400 to the present day.

2.  Gain an increased understanding of historical events in the various regions of the Early Modern and Modern world and to formulate their own opinions on events studied in class as well as contemporary events, since the past influences the world we are living in today.

3.  Discuss the political, social, geographic, religious, and economic forces, which shaped World history in the period covered by this course, what was the nature and level of influence of Western and non-Western civilization on the region, and the influence of these regions on the West.

4.  Become aware of and appreciate the major philosophical, religious, political, social, and economic and cultural changes which have shaped these regions and its peoples.

5.  Develop the ability to critically analyze the developments and experiences of the various cultures and civilization studied in this course and to apply this newly acquired knowledge and evolving evaluation skills to better understanding and appreciating the triumphs and problems faced by their own society today.

6. To develop and improve their communication skills (written and verbal) as well as their ability to analyze strengths and weaknesses of different cultures, civilizations and to be aware of the historiography concerning this period in human development.

What you can expect from me:  You can expect that I:

What I expect from you:  The following paragraphs explain what I expect of you in terms of work and behavior.
Evaluation and Requirements:
Attendance:  It is important that students attend class on a regular basis in order to fully participate in discussions and lectures and to get the most out of the course.  Roll will be taken throughout the semester.  If you are unable to attend class due to a health issue or emergency and need to reach me leave a leave a message on either my e-mail or voice mail if I am out of the office.  Failure to come to class will affect your grade.  Coming to class and texting or not participating will negatively impact your final course grade.

It is the responsibility of student athletes to inform the instructor of any class absences due to competitions.  In accordance with College policy athletes will be excused a reasonable number of absences due to competitions and reasonable accommodations made, but student athletes will not be excused absences due to practices.  Any missed work, quizzes, exams, or papers must still be handed in on time.

Students who have between 3 and 6 unexcused absences will lose one full letter grade from their final class grade.  Students who have between 6 and 9 unexcused absences will have their grade dropped two letter grades, and those who miss more than 9 classes will automatically fail the course.

Appropriate classroom behavior is required and expected of all students at all times.

Assignments:  Readings and class assignments will be based on selected readings from the Lockard text and other sources.  Readings from primary sources are used extensively and it is extremely important for students to read these assignments in addition to the main text in order to successfully and fully answer questions in class and on exams.   All readings should be done prior to the class meeting for which it is assigned.  The assignments from Lockard should be read prior to the first meeting for the week it is assigned.

Any assignments not handed in on time will have 5 points deducted for each weekday they are late, not for each class session.  For example, a paper due on Monday but handed in on Wednesday will have 10 points deducted from the original grade it would have received otherwise.   All papers are to be typed or produced on a computer.  No late work will be accepted after the last class for the semester.

Students who decide to drop this course ARE RESPONSIBLE for obtaining the correct forms and getting them to the professor prior to the College's announced deadline for withdrawing from classes.

Academic Honesty:  Neither cheating nor plagiarism will be tolerated in this or any other class.  The purpose of this course is to have you do your best work not to submit someone else's efforts, therefore anyone found cheating or plagiarizing the work of another will receive an automatic F for the course and the case will be referred to the appropriate academic officer in accordance with the College’s policy (see College Catalog).

Grading in this course is based on a combination of written work (including but not limited to geography assignments, short papers, three exams, and a final, as well as participation and contributing to class discussions. Quantity, but particularly quality of participation is important.  Participation in classroom discussions and activities is an easy way for students to improve their final grade and more importantly to improve their understanding of political, social and economic development that helped form the Early Modern and Modern world.  Assignments are designed to improve students’ ability to think analytically and to communicate their ideas both through verbal exchanges and the effective use of the written word.  Improvement over the course of the semester will be taken into consideration in determining final grades.

Papers:  Students will write a series of papers analyzing and reflecting on the readings.  These are to be turned in the day the readings are due for discussion in class. 

Tests will cover readings from the main text, the additional readings, and all other material handed out over the course of the class, lectures and discussions.  Exams will consist of a mixture of geography identifications, short essays, and ID's though the format is open to change by the professor.  The professor is not required to allow students who have an unexcused and undocumented absence to make-up missed exams.

Extra Credit:  This is flexible and depends on the student's initiative.  In general, students can earn an additional 1-5 points which will be added onto their total final semester grade.  My preference is for a 10 minute presentation in class on a topic chosen by the student and myself since this will benefit both you and your classmates.  If you are interested in extra credit do not wait until the last week of class to discuss it with me, as no extra credit work will be accepted during the last week of the semester.  Extra credit assignments must be initiated by the student.

Final Grades will be based on the following formula.

2 exam (150 pts each)

300 pts

Final exam

150pts

Papers

300 pts

Quizzes and additional assignments

100 pts

Class discussion and participation

150 pts

Total

1000 pts

 

Grade Points 

Grade Points

A 930-1000

C+ 780-799

A- 900-929

C 730-779

B+ 880-899

C- 700-729

B 830-879

D+ 680-699

B- 800-829

D 600-679

 

F 599 or below

 

 

Date

Assignment

Week 1:  January 10-14

 

Introduction to World Civilization, the course, and to the discussion of Global Connections

·         Reading:  Lockard, chapter 15

·         Images of paintings by Gentile Bellini on the course homepage

·         http://www.regia.org/misc/howweknow.htm

·         Luther’s 95 Theses – read at least 10 of the 95 theses – your choice - http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyfive.html

·         Image, Spanish armada

Geography assignment due January 14 (maps and items to be located are on the course homepage)

 

Week 2:  January 17-21

Africa and the Islamic World (1450-1750)

·         Reading:  Lockard, chapter 16

·         http://allafrica.com/stories/200903250427.html on Sankore Masjid (Islamic university in Timbuktu)

·         Images of letters dealing with the slave trade - http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/deptserv/rcs/slavery/case4.html

·         Material on the Amistad - http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/amistad/

·         Material related to Ottoman architecture

·         http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/amistad/ and images

 

Week 3:  January 24-28

 

Old and New Societies coming into greater contact

·         Reading:  Lockard, chapter 17

·         Images related to art, architecture, and religion

·         Excerpts from the log of Christopher Columbus - http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html

Friday – quiz

Week 4:  January 31 -February 4

 

The Asias Transforming

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 18

Week 5:  February 7-11

Modern Transitions

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 19

Exam 1: February 11

 

Week 6:  February 14-18

 

Transitions in the Old and New World

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 20

Paper no. 1 – due Friday

Friday – quiz

Week 7:  February 21-25

 

      Imperialism and Colonialism

      Reading:  Lockard, chapters 21 and 22

Week 8:  February 28 - March4

 

Expanding Worlds: Asia and Russia in Conflict

 

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 23

 

 

Week 9: 

March 7-11

 

Spring Break – no classes

Week 10: March 14-18 

 

War and Revolution

 Paper no. 2 – due Wednesday

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 24

Week 11:  March 21-25

Nationalism, Imperialism and the Developing World

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 25

Friday – quiz

Week 12:  March 28 – April 1

 

 

Exam 2:  Monday, March 28

Remaking the Global System

Reading:  Lockard, chapters 26 and 27

Week 13: 

April 4-8

Europe and Russia since 1945

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 28

Week 14: 

April 11-15

The Americas and the Pacific Basin

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 29

Paper no. 3 – due Friday

 

Week 15: 

April 18-22

     The Middle East and Africa in the Modern World

      Reading:  Lockard, chapter 30

Week 16: 

April 25-29

The Asias in the Modern World…and Where are we going now?

Reading:  Lockard, chapter 31

 
The Final Exam May 4, 3-4:50pm

Last updated 1/10/11