HST 101-02  HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION

                                        (From pre-history to 1500)

Fall 2002                                                                                                Class Room: UCC012

                                                                                                               Time: 8:30-9:20am

Professor: Dr. Pingchao Zhu                           

Office: RM 315 Administration Building                            

Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00, or by appointment

Office Phone: 885-7166, or 885-6253

Email: pzhu@uidaho.edu

Website: www.uidaho.edu/~pzhu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

            This course is an introduction to the early development of world civilizations from pre-history to the 16th Century.

Throughout the semester we will examine the rise of major human civilizations around the world.  We will also discuss the emergence of different thoughts and philosophies around the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., which would later have great impact on the shaping of different historical developments in different regions of the world.  Interaction of different traditions, cultures, and peoples in a global context will be discussed.  This class promotes critical thinking, encourages students participation in discussion in order to understand the evolution of political institutions, social and cultural structures, religions, as well as economic developments in human history.

 

TEXTBOOK

William J. Duiker & Jackson J. Spielvogel, The Essential World History: Vol. One: To 1800,

            Wadsworth Thomas Learning, 2002.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Two mid-term examinations                                      100 points each

2. One final paper                                                         100

3. Two short essays                                                        80 points each

4. Attendance & participation                                         40 points

 

Mid-term Examinations consist of multiple-choice questions, filling in the blank, and essay and they are not accumulative.  Questions come mainly from lectures and assigned readings.

 

Final Paper is due on the last week of the class.  Topic of the paper will be given one week before the due date.

           

Short Essays require students to respond to article handed-outs over a couple of issues under discussion.  Specific instructions will be given to each essay at due time during the semester.

 

GRADES SCALE   

According to the University of Idaho 1998 General Catalog, "For purpose of reporting and record, academic work is graded as follows: A-superior; B-above average; C-average; D-below average; F-failure."  A student’s performance in this course will be evaluated based on the university grade system and graded according to the following points break down:

 

A=500-450      B=449-400      C=399-350      D=349-300       F=299 and below

                                                                                                                                   

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1           Aug. 26-30

                        Introduction to the Course

                        What do we know about pre-history?

                        Mesopotamian civilization, I

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 1-8

 

Week 2           Sept. 4-6

                        No Class on Monday, Labor Day

                        Mesopotamian civilization, II

                        Egyptian civilization, I

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 8-12

 

Week 3           Sept. 11-13

                        Egyptian civilization, II

                        Indus River civilization

                        Hinduism

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 13-21, Chapter. 2

                         

Week 4           Sept. 16-20

                        Early Chinese civilization     

                        Confucianism & other philosophies

                        The First Emperor

                        Reading: Duiker, Chapter 3

 

Week 5           Sept. 23-27

                        Comparison of the four early civilizations

                        Buddhism

                        Early Japan and Shintoism

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 235-246

                       

Week 6           Sept. 30-Oct.4

                        1st Mid-term Exam on Monday

                        Early Civilizations

                        Africa & Mesoamerica

                        Reading: Duiker, Chapters 6 & 8

 

Week 7           Oct. 7-11

                        Ancient Greece                                             

                        Athens & Sparta

                        Greek philosophy

                        Hellenistic world

                        Reading: Duiker, Chapter 4      

                        1st Short Essay Due on Monday

 

Week 8           Oct. 14-18

                        The Roman Empire

                        The Age of Augustus

                        The Roman culture & life

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 96-110

 

Week 9           Oct. 21-25

                        The Rise of Christianity

                        Dead Sea Scrolls

                        The growth of Papacy

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 111-115

                       

Week 10         Oct. 28-Nov. 1

                        Early Medieval European Church & State

                        Origins of nation-states

                        Feudalism

                        Holy Roman Empire

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 218-268

                       

Week 11         Nov. 4-8

                        2nd Mid-term Exam on Monday                  

                        Medieval European Heritage

                        High medieval culture

                        The universities            

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 268-276 

                                               

Week 12         Nov. 11-15                 

                        Between East and West

                        Byzantine Empire

                        Islamic culture

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 278-283, Chapters 7 & 8

                        2nd Short Essay due on Monday

 

Week 13         Nov. 18-22

                        East Asia during the Middle Age

                        Glamour of the Chinese imperial dynasties

                        The Mongol conquest

                        Reading: Duiker, Chapter 10

 

Week 14         Nov. 23-29 Fall Recess, NO CLASS

 

Week 15         Dec.2-6

                        Late Medieval Europe in Crises

                        The Crusades              

                        The Black Death

                        Decline of the Roman Papacy

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 283-294

 

Week 16         Dec. 9-13

                        The New Age

                        The Renaissance

                        The Reformation                      

                        Encountering the New World

                        Reading: Duiker, pp. 294-301, Chapters 14 & 15

                        Final Paper due on Monday                        

 

**This course schedule is subject to changes by the instructor.

**Later paper without permission will result in deduction of 5 points per day.