1、 Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 1 Introduction to Western Civilization 1. Subject description and overview The subject provides the beginning students with an understanding of the history of Western civilization from pre-historic times to the 18c. It will emphasize the reading and dis
2、cussion of influential incidents that have shaped the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Western World during its ancient, medieval and early modern periods. The subject will enable students to develop a better understanding of the history of the Western world, and learn to analyze critically
3、 some of the current Western issues from the historical perspective. The student will learn aspects of the development of Western cultural, political, religious and social processes from hominid evolution to the Early Modern period. Therefore, in class, the student will be encouraged to get involved
4、 in the following discussions Describe changes in thought as it relates to Western culture in this period Identify and discuss some of the major people, events and time periods The study of Western Civilization enables individuals to develop a better understanding of the western historical issues wh
5、ich affect the West and the world as a whole. The knowledge gained from this course in Western Civilization will be of lifelong value to the student. The influence of the subject on all areas of activity should stimulate the individual to continue reading and conducting research in detail concerning
6、 western civilization. It is recognised that students doing this subject may be drawn from different backgrounds and may hold different interests. Some may wish to study Western Civilization as preparation for further specialisation in the subject. Others may study the subject to complement other su
7、bject disciplines, such as, western literature, eastern civilization or the history of Chinese literature. Some Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 2 students may see the subject as one worthy of study in its own right. 2. Pre-requisite units and assumed knowledge None 3. Learning aims and
8、 outcomes Learning outcome 1: Explain the development of the Western civilization in ancient times. ASSESMENT CRITERIA: a. Discuss the characteristics of the Western civilization in ancient times. b. Explain the impact brought by the agricultural revolution in Neolithic Age on the human civilization
9、. c. Discuss the political and cultural characteristics of the Roman Empire and their influence on the world to come. Learning outcome 2: Explain the development of the Western civilization in Middle Ages. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: a. Discuss the role that trade and cities played in European society in h
10、igh Middle Ages. b. Explain the emergence, the growth and the decline of the church power in Medieval Civilization c. Describe the great event “The Black Death” in the 14c. Learning outcome 3: Discuss the growth of the Western civilization in the early Modern Ages. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: a. Discuss th
11、e Renaissance and its great impact on the Western world. Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 3 b. Explain the Protestant Reformation and its social impact (especially on religion and politics). c. Describe and discuss the European expansion in 17c. d. Explain the scientific revolution and
12、the emergence of the modern science. Learning outcome 4: Discuss the main thread of the history of Western civilization. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: a. Explain the significant periods of the history. b. Explain the major events in the history of Western civilization. c. Discuss the major persons during the
13、 course. d. Attempt to apply basic historical methodologies and critical thinking to current and historical controversies 4. Weighting of final grade Grades will be assigned on the basis of the following percentages: Attendance 10 Attitude, class activities, therefore, contact the teacher prior to c
14、lass if the student is not going to attend. The student is tardy if not in class at the time the class is scheduled to begin and is admitted to class. Extenuating circumstances require documentation and approval by the appropriate department head and academic dean. Three unexcused absences will dire
15、ctly lead the student to F. Participation Policy Discussion. The class will be followed in which everyone is expected to engage in thoughtful and critical discussion of the major ideas, theories, and positions advanced in the readings. To assist students with this, they will be grouped. Each week, s
16、tudents should prepare a list of three questions or statements about the readings. The student will hand these in at the beginning of the class session. Each groups conversation should be directed and guided by discussion leaders. Shortly after five minutes of discussion, some a group will be asked
17、to demonstrate the conclusion concerning about those questions. Additionally, there will be in-class questions coming out of the chapters. Each student is encouraged to get involved in the discussion. Discussion Leader Each week, individuals are responsible for leading class discussions for one grou
18、p. They will regulate most of the flow and direction of discussion. Discussion leaders should e-mail an outline of their discussion plan by noon before the assigned class. I dont want our discussions to be a free-for-all. Discussion leaders should address the following general questions: What are th
19、e major events of the chapter? What is the significance of the current chapter with contemporaries? What is the connection of the chapter with previous ones? The readings may address further discussion/explanation regarding the content. The annotated bibliography must include: author(s), title of ar
20、ticle, chapter, or book, publication name, volume and/or issue of publication, page numbers, and date published. Handouts and PowerPoint presentations are also useful. Policies on Exams and Quizzes Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 5 Quizzes. A series of questions will be distributed in
21、class and after class. Students responses to these questions will be marked. These questions will cover the previous chapters of the course. The in-class quizzes should be accomplished as the time asked, while the after-class assignments should be handed before the due time. Otherwise, late assignme
22、nts will not be marked. Final Examination. The students are asked to finish the paper in required time. Cheating and plagiarism are not allowed. Otherwise, the final score would be counted 0. Plagiarism Any form of cheating is NEVER tolerated. Any student ONCE caught cheating on a quiz, assignment o
23、r examination will receive a 0 for that particular work of the whole semester. At the beginning of the semester the definition of plagiarism will be carefully explained. When any thoughts or writings of another person are used, the sources must be clearly identified (using quotes, bibliography and g
24、iving reference). Classroom Policies No eating, cellular phones, electronic dictionaries, smoking, chatting or drowsing in class. Please try to speak in English rather than Chinese in class. Students are not allowed to attend class without textbooks. Respect classmates ideas, opinions, and questions
25、 of your classmates. All your classroom involvement, performance and after-class communications with instructor will affect your participation score. 6. Texts and other recourses The primary textbook: Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: A Brief History, Third Edition, Beijing: Peking Univer
26、sity Press, 2006. Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 6 The supplementary textbooks: Woelful, James and Sarah Truelove. Patterns in Western Civilization, 4th ed Needham Hts, MA: Simon and Schuster, 2007. Marvin Perry, Western Civilization: A Brief History,Tenth Edition, Boston: Wadsworth,
27、2013. 董小燕：西方文明史纲，浙江大学出版社， 2001 年版。 勒纳等，王觉飞译：西方文明史，中国青年出版社， 2003 年版。 Some Journals: World History, 世界知识 7. Teaching methods Lectures, Oral presentation, Group discussions and Assignments 8. Session Plan Week Duration Contents Chapters covered Outcomes covered 1 3 The Ancient Near East: The First Civi
28、lizations(1b,4a) The First Humans. The Emergence of Civilization. Civilization in Mesopotamia. Egyptian Civilization. 1 1,4 Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 7 2 3 The Ancient Near East: Peoples and Empires(1a) On the Fringes of Civilization The Hebrews: The Children of Israel The Assyri
29、an Empire The Persian Empire 2 1 3 3 The Civilization of the Greeks(1a) Early Greece. The Greeks in a Dark age The world of the Greek City-States The High Point of Greek Civilization: Classical Greece. 3 1 4 3 The Hellenistic World The Rise of Macedonia and the Conquests of Alexander The World of th
30、e Hellenistic Kingdoms Culture in the Hellenistic World 4 1 5 3 The Roman Republic(1c,4b) The Emergence of Rome The Rome Republic The Roman Conquest of the Mediterranean Society and Culture in the Roman World The Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic 5 1,4 Introduction to Western Civilization-sylla
31、bus 8 6 3 The Roman Empire(1c,4c) The Age of Augustus The Early Empire Roman Culture and Society in the Early Empire Crisis and the Late Empire Transformation of the Roman World 6 1,4 7 3 The Passing of the Roman World and the Emergence of Medieval Civilization(2b) Transformation of the Roman World:
32、 The Role of the Germanic Peoples The Role and Development of the Christian Church The Byzantine Empire The Rise of Islam 7 2 8 3 European Civilization in the Early Middle Ages The World of the Carolingians Disintegration of the Carolingian Empire The Emerging World of Lords and Vassals The Zenith o
33、f Byzantine Civilization The Slavic Peoples of Central and Eastern 8 2 9 3 Mid Term Examination (LO1,2) Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 9 10 3 The Recovery and Growth of European Society in the High Middle Ages(2a) Land and People in the High Middle Ages The New World of Trade and Citi
34、es The Intellectual and Artistic World of the High Middle Ages 9 2 11 3 The Rise of Kingdoms and the Growth of Church Power(2b,4b) The Emergence and Growth of European Kingdoms The Recovery and Reform of the Catholic Church Christianity and Medieval Civilization The Crusades 10 2,4 12 3 The Late Mid
35、dle Ages: Crisis and Disintegration in the Fourteenth Century(2b,c,4b) A Time of Troubles: Black Death and Social Crisis War and Political Instability The Decline of the Church Culture and Society in an Age of Adversity 11 2,4 Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 10 13 3 Recovery and Rebirt
36、h: The Renaissance(3a) Meaning and Characteristics of the Italian Renaissance The Making of Renaissance Society The Italian States in the Renaissance Intellectual Renaissance in Italy The Artistic Renaissance The European State in the Renaissance The Church in the Renaissance 12 3 14 3 Reformation a
37、nd Religious Warfare in the Sixteenth Century(3b,4c) Prelude to Reformation Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany The Spread of the Protestant Reformation The Social Impact of the Protestant Reformation The Catholic Reformation Politics and the Wars of Religion in the Sixteenth Century 13 3,4
38、 15 3 Europe and the World: New Encounters(3c) On the Brink of a New World New Horizons: The Protuguese and Spanish Empire New Rivals on the World Stage Toward a World Economy The Impact of European Expansion 14 3 Introduction to Western Civilization-syllabus 11 16 3 State Building and the Search fo
39、r Order in the Seventeenth Century(3d,4b) Social Crises, War, and Rebellions The Practice of Absolutism: Western Europe Absolutism in Central and Eastern Europe Limited Monarchy: The Dutch Republic and England The Flourishing of European Culture 15 3,4 17 3 Final Exam (LO1,2,3,4) 18 3 Feedback and Re-assessment
