USU 1320: History and Civilization
©Damen, 2019
A Guide To Writing in History and Classics
Home
Index of Chapters
Syllabus
Course Description
 

SYLLABUS

The Sections listed under "Assignments" below are the only required reading in the course. The material included in these Chapters/Sections will be used as the basis of Assessments. These may be accessed by clicking the links below or going to the "Chapters" heading on the main page which links to the Chapters themselves.

In addition, by clicking on the links appended to each Section designation below, students will have access to the Powerpoint slides which are presented in class and based on the Chapters. These slides will appear as Adobe files (pdf) and will become available only after the lecture has been delivered. Please note that there will be no material presented in the lectures or Powerpoint slides which cannot also be found in the Chapters. That is, all work in this course will be based on the information in the Chapters alone. The lectures and Powerpoint presentations are included solely to help students understand the course materials better by delivering them in a different medium.

The articles listed under "Assignments" for each Section of the class are on electronic reserve, which may be accessed on the main page of the Course Description, under Articles available in Canvas. These articles are not required reading and will not be included in material covered on Assessments. I have provided them for those students who wish to delve more deeply into topics covered in class. These articles also serve as the basis for Reactions.

Day/Date   Section and Class Topic   Assignments
 
INTRODUCTION: A Brief Survey of Ancient Western Civilization
         
Tues 8/27   Introduction to the Class; Overview of the Syllabus; A Brief Survey of Western Civilization up to 1500 CE (Part 1)   Click here to see the Timeline presented in class (pdf file)
         
Thurs 8/29   Questions about the Syllabus; A Brief Survey of Western Civilization up to 1500 CE (Part 2); Pre-Test of the Pre-Modern World    
         
         

 
PART 1: Documentary Evidence, or What Has Survived (and What Does It Mean?)
         
Tues 9/3   SECTION 1: History and What-Really-Happened (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 1
         
Thurs 9/5   SECTION 2: Herodotus and the Persian Wars (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 2
         
Tues 9/10   SECTION 3: History and Literature: Ancient Epic (Homer and Vergil) (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 3
         
Thurs 9/12   WRITING WORKSHOP (you are strongly encouraged to attend!)
  Read A Guide to Writing in History and Classics
         
Tues 9/17   IN-CLASS DISCUSSION: Determination of Quality Thesis Topics (QTT's) for PART 1   Prepare Quality Thesis Topics for PART 1
         
Thurs 9/19   ASSESSMENT 1
  Study for Assessment 1
         
       

 
PART 2: Physical Evidence and History
         
Tues 9/24   SECTION 4: Archaeology: Schliemann and Troy (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 4
         
Thurs 9/26   SECTION 5: Architecture: Culture and Space (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 5
         
Tues 10/1   SECTION 6: Man and Disease: The Black Death (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 6
         
Thurs 10/3   IN-CLASS DISCUSSION: Determination of Quality Thesis Topics (QTT's) for PART 2   Prepare Quality Thesis Topics for PART 2
         
Tues 10/8   ASSESSMENT 2   Study for Assessment 2
   
   

 
PART 3: History and Society
   
Thurs 10/10   SECTION 7: The Indo-Europeans and Linguistics (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint); Papers for PART 2 DUE   Read Section 7
         
Tues 10/15   SECTION 8: The Fall of Rome: Facts and Fictions (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)    Read Section 8
         
Thurs 10/17   SECTION 9: Women and Historical Biography (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 9
         
Tues 10/22   IN-CLASS DISCUSSION: Determination of Quality Thesis Topics (QTT's) for PART 3   Prepare Quality Thesis Topics for PART 3
         
Thurs 10/24   ASSESSMENT 3   Study for Assessment 3
         
 

 
PART 4: History and Religion (Before Christ)
         
Tues 10/29   SECTION 10: Akhenaten and Monotheism (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint); Papers for PART 3 DUE   Read Section 10
         
Thurs 10/31   SECTION 11: The Old Testament and Its Authors (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 11
         
Tues 11/5   SECTION 12: Roman Cults and Worship (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)   Read Section 12
         
Thurs 11/7   IN-CLASS DISCUSSION: Determination of Quality Thesis Topics (QTT's) for PART 4   Prepare Quality Thesis Topics for PART 4
         
Tues 11/12   ASSESSMENT 4   Study for Assessment 4
         
         

 
PART 5: History and Religion (After Christ)
         
Thurs 11/14   SECTION 13: Early Christianity and History (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint); Papers for PART 4 DUE   Read Section 13
         
Tues 11/19   SECTION 14: The Nature and Triumph of Islam (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)    Read Section 14
         
Thurs 11/21   SECTION 15: The Crusades and Medieval Christianity (powerpoint) (audio) (audio/powerpoint)     Read Section 15 
         
Tues 11/26   NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK    
         
Thurs 11/28   NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK    
         
Tues 12/3   IN-CLASS DISCUSSION: Determination of Quality Thesis Topics (QTT's) for PART 5   Prepare Quality Thesis Topics for PART 5
         
Thurs 12/5   ASSESSMENT 5   Study for Assessment 5
         

         

Tues 12/10; 9:30-11:20 am (EBB 215)

  FINAL: Post-Test for the Post-Modern World ; Bonus Assessment; All Written Work DUE
     
Home
Index of Chapters
Syllabus
Course Description