Fall 2006

History 231: The Origins of the Contemporary World: Prehistory to late 18th century

Section 14 (rm. 2303N, 1:55-3:10)     and     Section 16 (rm. 206T, 3:35-4:50)

Newsome231.14@kleos-clarus.org                           Newsome231.16@kleos-clarus.org

 

Taught by Daniel Newsome: Office: 4324N (Office Hour - Mon. 1:00-1:55 or by appointment)

 

Syllabus

Class Policies – Research Tools – Extra Credit

Text: The New Penguin History of the World by J.M. Roberts, 4th ed.

(ISBN: 0141007230)

 

Week ofÉ

Topic

Roberts

Reading

Additional Readings and Assignments

1: Aug. 30

 

Introduction

n.a.

Introduction to the class.  Fame, Kleos, Claritas, É etc.

In class article on fame (468 KB)

2: Sept. 4-6

Pre-History

and Energy

pp. 1-29

Class Policy document.—Study this like material for a test.

Assignment 1- Crosby and Roberts readings and written assignment.

3: Sept. 11-13

Early Civilizations I

and Energy

pp. 29-49

Assignment 2- Crosby and Roberts readings and written assignment.

4: Sept. 18-20

Early Civilizations II

 

Assignment 3 – Marduk and Roberts and illustrated epic

5: Sept. 25-27

Exam I on Monday

 

Assignment 4 – Exam thoughts and McWhorter assignment.

 

Unit One is Closed. 9/29

 

(9/27/06)--Homework is now closed. 

  Extra Credit

6: Oct. 3-4

Language and Projects

 

Assignment 1b – McWhorter and Rosetta Stone

7: Oct. 11

Homer - Mycenaean Civ.

pp. 95-105

Assignment 2b – Homer

8: Oct. 16-18

Greek/Roman-- Classical Studies

pp. 165-187

pp. 188-194

pp. 200-211

Assignment 3b – Homer, Pythagoras, Plato, and Ptolemy

9: Oct. 23-25

Roman World

pp. 227-259

Assignment 4b – Rome and Jews and Christians

10: Oct. 30- Nov. 1

Early Christianity

 

Assignment 5b – Early Christianity, Pagels

11: Nov. 6-8

Early Islam

Cross-ades

 

Assignment 6b – Islam and Ibn Tufail

12: Nov. 13-15

Islamic Worldview

Wed. Nov.

15th: EXAM

Assignment 7b – Ibn Tufayl cont.       É..&  Exam on Wed.

Homework for this unit will not be accepted after this week.

13: Nov. 20

(No class Nov. 22)

East-West Issues

 

Assignment 1c – Crusades.

14: Nov. 27-29

Siege Tactics and the Early Renaissance

 

Papers Due on Monday the 27th.

Assignment 2c – Art, Science, Literature, Craft, Cardano, Rabelais Bishop Landa

15: Dec. 4-6

Europe meets Mexico

Skim

pp. 483-488

Assignment 3c – Bishop Landa and the Maya.

16: Dec. 11-13

Yucatan and Japan

Skim

pp. 466-476

Assignment 4c – Yucatan and Samurai

17: Final Exams

      Dec. 18

Section 14--12:30-2:30

Section 16--4:00-6:00

 

It has been lots of fun and IÕm exhausted.  I have updated all of the web pages that you will want to visit for the Final Exam.  I put up my lecture notes and picture shows and all that sort of stuff. The exam will cover everything since the last exam (from Nov. 20 onwards).  Here is a link for a description of the exam and a few parting thoughts.

       EXAM LINK

2nd paper will be due at the Exam.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 *Complete the assigned readings before the class meetings. 

Disclaimer: This is not a static document.  It will be updated each week, so check it regularly.

 

Remember, itÕs not so much a matter of what, but how.  What happened in history is endless, and interesting.  But how history works is the mystery. 

 

 

Due to popular demand, I have posted some excerpts from the comic books:

    Enuma Elish Comic Books: Enuma231.14.pdf [3.1 MB] and Enuma231.16.pdf [1.6 MB]

 

If you are having problems opening the pdfs it may be a problem with AOL.  Try another browser like Internet Explorer.  If you insist on using AOL, perhaps read this link which may address your problem: http://www.ukings.ca/kings_3442.html

Here are some other sites with ideas: http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/331025.html or http://www.ci.lincoln.ne.us/main/helppdf.htm

 

If you donÕt have a copy of Acrobat Reader (also known as Adobe Reader) with which to view the pdf files, you can download a free copy from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html or just follow links at http://www.adobe.com.

 

Treat me with respect, and I will do likewise.  Let me know ahead of time about any issues that may affect your attendance or any possible disruptions to class. Cell phone disturbances and wandering in and out of the room during class will be noted and considered an absence.  I reserve the right to evaluate your behavior in class.  If I determine your presence to be a detriment to the overall class I will ask you to leave.