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HIST 101
World History I (Beginning to 1500)
(3 hours)  MWF, 11:00‑11:50 p.m.
AD 28, Fall 2005
Jan Bender Shetler, Wyse 311, phone 7108, email jans@goshen.edu

Course Description
History of the world from the agricultural revolution to European expansion, concentrating on the establishment and interaction of classical traditions in the nonwestern world.  Also introduces the study of history as an academic discipline and how the historian uses primary sources.

The course will be divided into three sections in chronological order:

1. Ancient Society: Origins, Agriculture, States and Cities (3500 – 1000 BC).  After an introduction on models of and approaches to world history we will look at origin myths, the beginnings of agricultural societies, the origin of states and cities and changing gender relations in the ancient world.  The emphasis will be on how historians use various kinds of sources to learn about the ancient past.  Students will be asked to question the traditional emphasis and value put on city-states alone and look at how the whole global community was affected by these revolutionary changes.
2. The Classical World: Cultural Traditions and Interactions (1000 BC-700 AD).  This section will emphasize the establishment of the world’s major regional cultural traditions through the classical texts from China, India, Africa and the Greco-Roman world.  Then we will see how these cultures interacted along the Silk Route in trade, cultural exchange and the spread of universal religions, thus striking a balance between the development of distinctive traditions and formative interactions.  Students will be asked to reflect on how these classical traditions provide the cultural foundations of our world today.
3. The Post-Classical World: The Emergence of World Systems (700 AD- 1500 AD).  The last section will look at the establishment of the first truly global systems: Islam, the Indian Ocean trade, the Mongol Empire and finally the beginnings of European conquest.  In addition we will look at the cultural traditions of Africa and the Americas.  Students will be asked to reflect on the significance of these world systems today.

Course Objectives

1. To gain knowledge, various perspectives and insight in respect to the themes stated above and to the following questions:
2. How have commonly accepted categories and concepts of world history shaped our understanding of the past?
3. Why and how have societies/cultures in different regions of the world developed differently?
4. What are the major global processes that have brought change to societies around the world?
5. How has interaction among different societies affected the processes of world history
6. To practice the historian's craft — to develop the art of reading critically, evaluating historical sources, articulating ideas in a group setting, and expressing arguments clearly in writing.
7. To gain a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, civilizations and traditions that are distant from our own in time and space and to cultivate "intercultural openness with the ability to function effectively with people of other worldviews" (GC Learning Outcome #2) in order to become “global citizens.”

Course Policies

1. Attendance at all classes is mandatory.  After three unexcused absences your grade will drop one percentage point for each day you are absent.  Please inform me in advance of absences for school functions.  Exams and discussion participation on days of unexcused absences cannot be made up. 
2. You demonstrate respect for the teacher and fellow students by prompt arrival and attentiveness in class.  A tardy will be counted as an absence if I have already taken the attendance.  Plagiarism in written assignments will not be tolerated.
3. Extensions on papers are granted only in unusual circumstances and at least 3 days in advance of the deadline.  If you are sick or for some medical reason could not complete the assignment let me know as soon as possible.  Any late work, which has not been cleared with me in advance, will be reduced by ten percentage points for each day that it is late.  If you have a scheduled school activity, please turn your assignment in ahead of time.
4. Reading assignments must be completed before the class for which they are assigned. Students should come to class with written questions and reading notes, regarding each assignment. Be prepared!  There will be time in each class session for clarification of readings.  Lectures will not necessarily cover the readings, for which you will be held responsible on tests. The syllabus will indicate which reading assignments will be graded.
5. Goshen College wants to help all students be as academically successful as possible.  If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.  In order to receive accommodations, documentation concerning your disability must be on file with the Academic Support Center, Kulp Hall 004, 574-535-7576, lmartin@goshen.edu.  All information will be held in the strictest confidence.

 Course Requirements

1. Map Quiz:  Your first assignment is to fill in a blank outline map with the geographical features listed at the end of the syllabus.  For the quiz I will ask you to place 10 of these in the proper location on a blank map.  You can buy world outline maps in the bookstore.  Other exams may ask for these same map features.
2. Three papers are required for the course (3-4 pages, double-spaced, 10-12 pt.).  Papers are due at the beginning of class period indicated on the syllabus. These will be thesis papers based on the three supplementary books.  You will be required to write a first draft and a final draft for each paper.  The first draft will receive comments from a student assistant as well as peer review.  More specific information on these papers will be provided later.  Use the writing center if you need some help. 
3. Discussion groups will be a regular part of our course, meeting 10 times.  You will be assigned a discussion group that will stay the same throughout the semester.  On discussion days you will hand in study questions that you have prepared after reading the assigned documents.  I need discussion leaders for each of these groups.  You will receive 3 points for your participation in these groups each time they meet.  Discussion leaders will meet with the other leaders to prepare questions for their group’s discussion each week.  Let me know if you are interested in doing this job and will receive some credit for this job.
4. Exams will include one essay question (final, two essay questions) and short answer identification questions, written during the exam period in the classroom.  They will cover the readings and lectures.
5. Daily Assignments:  A crucial part of your grade will be determined by your preparation and participation in the class. Three questions that will surely be discussed in class will be posted on the Blackboard website under “Assignments.”  You are responsible to do the reading and to formulate your own answer to these questions for discussion in class.  When the syllabus indicates “DUE” you are to turn them in electronically through the Blackboard site for 3 points.  You must bring the questions printed out when we have discussion groups and turn them in after class, but it would be wise to bring them to class each day so that you can answer the questions in class.  Since you will be graded on your participation you should come prepared.  When the assignments are collected through the Blackboard site you will receive CREDIT or NO-CREDIT for these assignments each day according to your good faith effort, three points for each. You can miss one daily assignment and still receive full points for the daily assignments.  Some of the reading assignments are websites that can be accessed through Blackboard where they are listed on a document called Blackboard website assignments. 
6. Participation:  You are expected to participate in the class discussions and will receive up to 20 points for your involvement.  If you do not feel comfortable participating in class discussions you can post responses on the BlackBoard website discussion board for your participation points.

Grades will be determined by the following:

1. Papers        (3 papers x 50)                                                             150 points
2. Discussion Groups, Participation and Preparation                           100 points
3. Three Exams including the final (70 + 70 + 100)                                          240 points                   
4. Map Quiz                                                                                                     10 points

TOTAL                                                                                                            500 points

90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D

Required Reading
Bentley, Jerry and Ziegler, Herbert F.  Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past Vol. 1, Second Edition. (McGraw Hill, 2002).
Andrea, Alfred and James Overfield.  The Human Record: Vol. I  (Houghton Mifflin, 2001).
Long, Charles B., Alpha:  The Myths of Creation (Scholars Press, 1963).
Shaw, Brent D., Spartacus and the Slave Wars, (Bedford/St. Martins, 2001).
Niane, D. T., Sundiata:  An Epic of Old Mali (Longman, 1965).

Other Assignments on the web and accessed through Blackboard.
Outline map of the world available in the bookstore

Schedule, Fall 2005, World History I

Map Exercise : locate all of the following on a world map and be ready for a map quiz on Sept. 5.  I will show where it is on the map and you will identify it, I will give you the list of possibilities too!

1. Assyria                                                                     30. Carthage
2. Lower Egypt                                                            31. Mecca
3. Phoenicia                                                                  28. An Yang
4. Harrapan society                                                      29. Great Zimbabwe                                        
5. Xia Dynasty                                                             30. Tenochtitlan
6. Bantu homeland                                                        31. Cuzco
7. Maya society                                                            32. Axum
8. Persia                                                                       33. Timbuktu
9. Anatolia                                                                    34. Kilwa
10. Bactria                                                                   35. Benares
11. Korea                                                                    36. Karakorum
12. Tibet                                                                      37. Angkor
13. Macedonia                                                             38. Constantinople
14. Ionia                                                                       39. Sahara Desert
15. Nubia                                                                     40. The Ganges River
16. Arabia                                                                    41. The Nile River                   
17. Java                                                                       42. The Euphrates River
18. Kongo                                                                    43. The Huang He River (Yellow)                    
19. Chang’an                                                                44. The Yangzi River
20. Babylon                                                                  45. The Black Sea
21. Jerusalem                                                               46. The Arabian Sea
22. Athens                                                                    47. Aegean Sea
23. Alexandria                                                              48. Andes Mountains   
24. Rome                                                                     49. Caucasus Mountains
25. Moscow                                                                 50. Taklamakan Desert