HISTORY 101
Van Hall/Section 4/Fall 2008

I.   OBJECTIVE:  To acquaint students with enough information to be able to discuss the ancient
                             past intelligently and in such a way that they would wish to do so.

II.  METHOD:  The instructor has selected c.40 topics, arranged them chronologically, and will make
                         each the subject of a lecture. Questions and comments will be welcomed.

III. TEXTBOOK:  The Western Experience (9th edition), by Mortimer Chambers et al., is
                              required for both History 101 and History 102.

IV. OUTSIDE READING:  Each student must select and read one book (other than the textbook)
                                          which is relevant to western civilization from the earliest times to c.1400.
                                          The book must be approved by the instructor.

V.   BOOK REVIEW:  Each student must submit a three-to-five page, typewritten, double-spaced
                                     book review (c.800 - 1300 words.) Two copies must be made, one for
                                     the instructor and one to be retained by the student. For more, click:
                                     Book Review.

VI.  EXAMINATIONS:  There will be two exams during the semester plus a final exam. All exams
                                        will be of the short answer variety and will include a section requiring
                                        students to locate important places on a map.

VII. GRADES:  Grades will be computed on the following basis:
                                             Each semester exam will count: 20% of the course grade.
                                             The book review will count:      20%
                                             The final exam will count:          40%

VIII. GRADE SCALE:     90 - 100  A
                                         87 -  89   B+
                                         80 -  86   B
                                         77 -  79   C+
                                         70 -  76   C
                                         67 -  69   D+
                                         60 -  66   D
                                              -  59   F

IX.  MISSED EXAMS:  There is no penalty for missing one or both of the semester exams. If you
                                       miss one exam, then the final exam will count 60% of your course grade.
                                       If you miss both, then the final will count 80%.
                                             THERE ARE NO MAKE UP EXAMS.


  X. REQUIRED OUTCOMES: Successful completion of this course will require that the student is able to identify the major persons, trends and events of the ancient western past from the earliest times to the renaissance/reformation and possess sufficient understanding to discuss those things cogently both on paper and in conversation.

22 August

Syllabus, Resources and the Earliest Times

25 August

From Paleolithic Times to the Neolithic Revolution: Becoming Human

27 August

The Neolithic Revolution

29 August

Civilization: The Temple Cities of Sumeria

3 September

The Indo-Europeans

5 September

Assyria

8 September

The Persian Empire, c.561 - 323 B.C

10 September

The Rise of Greek Civilization: Minoans, Mycenaeans and Linear B

12 September

The Greek Dark Ages and the Polis

15 September

Sparta

17 September

Athens

19 September

Persian Wars and the Golden Age

22 September

The Suicide of Classical Greece: The Great Peloponnesian War

24 September

The Rise of Macedon: Philip and Alexander

26 September

Alexander

29 September

The Hellenistic Age

1 October

Early Rome             

3 October

First Exam

6 October

The Conquest of Italy and the Mediterranean World (Roman Army)

8 October

The Disintegration of the Roman Republic

9-10 October

FALL BREAK

13 October

Augustus Creates a New Way: The Roman Empire Begins

15 October

  Everyday Life in the Early Empire    

17 October

 The "Five Good Emperors," 96 - 180. How real was Gladiator?   BOOK REVIEW DUE              

20 October

Disaster of the 3rd Century

22 October

Different Answers: Diocletian and Constantine

24 October

Edward Gibbon and the Problem of the "Fall" of the Western Empire

27 October

The "Dark Ages:" Germanic Tribes

29 October

St. Benedict and Monasticism

31 October

What was Feudalism?

3 November

 Byzantium          

5 November

The Carolingians

7 November

Second Exam

10 November

9th-Century Troubles

12 November

The Creation of England

14 November

King Alfred and the Danes

17 November

Church Reform and the Investiture Controversy

19 November

  England:1066 And All That

21 November

 The Crusades 

24 November

 Cities and Universities       

26-28 November

 THANKSGIVING

1 December

1300s: War, Schism, Plague

3 December

The Renaissance

5 December

Luther and the Reformation

   FINAL EXAM:  11:00 – 1:30, Monday 8 December
              Last Day to Drop without a 'WF'---3 October

Office Hours:       MW  1:00 – 2:30,  5:00 – 5:20
             TTH  10:00 – 12:10
            FRI  12:00  – 1:30

 Return to:

Last update, 5 September 2008
You can reach me by email at: DVanHall@mailbox.sc.edu.
 http://usclancaster.sc.edu/faculty/vanhall/hist101f'8.htm