Ancient and Medieval Europe 111
COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2007 Brief Edition
(The Full Syllabus is Downloadable)
Dr. John P. Boubel
Bethany Lutheran College
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Ancient and Medieval Europe is an introduction to and survey of the History of Western Civilization from its ancient origins in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome through the Middle Ages to the beginnings of the Renaissance (ca. 1400). 3 semester credits
I. Approximate Course Outline and Assignments
A Unit I
1. Topics: Beginnings of history and civilization; Ancient Mesopotamians; Egyptians; Hebrews; Near Eastern Empires
2. Assignments:
a. Read: chapters 1 and 2 of Jackson Spielvogel's Western Civilization Volume A, sixth edition; select documents from the Reader as assigned.
b. Geography quiz on the physical geography of the Near East and North Africa Tuesday 4 September
c. First reaction essay on travelogue on the Near East, North Africa, or Europe Thursday13 September; Make sure this is on a travelogue and not a documentary. Do not rely on the library to select the correct ones for you. A travelogue is like a documentary but highlights one country, city or region often in a promotional way. It is not necessarily very historical. A travelogue on Egypt is recommended either now or Tuesday 2 October for those contemplating a career in elementary education.
d. First Unit Test Tuesday 25 September
B Unit II
1. Topics: Ancient Crete (Minoan), the Archaic, Ancient and Classical Greeks; Greek Philosophy; Alexander the Great and Hellenism; Ancient Roman Republic and early Empire
2. Assignments:
a. Read: chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 to page 157 “Transformation of the Roman World” in Spielvogel; Sara Bisel The Secrets of Vesuvius/,” select documents from the Reader as assigned.
b. Geography quiz on the physical geography of Europe, including Britain: Thursday 27 September
c. Second reaction essay on travelogue on either the Middle East, North Africa or Europe due Tuesday 2 October. Make sure this is on a travelogue and not a documentary. A travelogue is like a documentary but highlights one country, city or region often in a promotional way. It is not necessarily very historical. A travelogue on Egypt is recommended for those contemplating a career in elementary education if you did not do one on Egypt in Unit I in September.
d. Critical Book review of Sara Bisel The Secrets of Vesuvius" due Tuesday 9 October. The book is on reserve in the library.
e. Second Unit Test Tuesday16 October
f. Mid-term break: no class Thursday 18 October!!!
C Unit III
1. Topics: The "fall" of Rome and the disintegration of the Ancient world; the “Dark Ages"; the Carolingian “Renaissance”; and Viking invasions
2. Assignments:
a. Read: chapters 6 from page 157 “Transformation of the Roman World,” 7, and 8 in Spielvogel; select documents from the Reader as assigned.
b. First reaction essay on article, museum visit, documentary video or DVD, etc., on any subject covered in this course due Tuesday 23 October. If you choose to watch a video or DVD make sure it is a documentary and not a travelogue. Do not rely on the library to select the correct ones for you. Those anticipating a career in elementary education are required to watch a documentary, read an article, etc., on Egypt either now or Tuesday 20 November
c. Third Unit Test Thursday 8 November
D Unit IV
1. Topics: The High Middle Ages, growth of cities and commerce; emergence and growth of kingdoms; the Crusades; the calamitous Fourteenth Century; the disintegration of Medieval society; and the start of the Renaissance
2. Assignments:
a. Read chapters 9, 10, 11 and pp. 313-3337of chapter 12 (excluding the yellow boxed articles) in Spielvogel; Sharan Newman’s novel The Wandering Arm and her article “Reaching Out: Presenting the Middle Ages to Modern America" in a handout from Medieval Academy News[Letter], select documents from the Reader as assigned.
b. Second reaction essay on article, museum visit, documentary video or DVD, etc., on any subject covered in this course due Tuesday 20 November. If you choose to watch a video or DVD make sure it is a documentary and not a travelogue. Do not rely on the library to select the correct ones for you. Those anticipating a career in elementary education are required to watch a documentary, read an article, etc., on Egypt either now if you did not do so on 23 October.
c. Critical Book review of Sharan Newman’s The Wandering Arm due Tuesday 27 November
d. Repeat of geography quiz on the physical geography of the Near East and North Africa Thursday 29 November
e. Repeat of geography quiz on the physical geography of Europe Tuesday 4 December
f. Fourth Unit test and Final Exam during final exam time Tuesday 18 December at 10:30 in the MH computer labs
II. Resources
A Books and articles
1. Bisel, Sara. The Secrets of Vesuvius. Toronto: Scholastic, 1990, reprint ed. New York: Madison Press 1990. [Copies are on reserve in the Bethany Memorial library. Used copies are also available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other vendors.]
2. Newman, Sharan. Sharan Newman The Wandering Arm. N. Y.: Tor Books, 1995, ISBN: 0312877331;
3. Newman, Sharan "Reaching Out: Presenting the Middle Ages to Modern America" in handout from Medieval Academy News.
4. Primary Sources for HI 111 Ancient and Medieval Europe, John P. Boubel, Instructor. [This collection of documents from public domain sources is for sale at the Bethany College Bookstore.]
5. Spielvogel, Jackson Western Civilization. Vol. A to 1500 6th edition, Belmont, CA: Thompson/Wadsworth 2003, ISBN 0534646050.
6. Various articles from Smithsonian, National Geographic, Archeology today, etc., or historical journals.
B Video
1. Macaulay, David Roman City Unicorn Projects, PBS, Washington, D.C.1994
2. Macaulay, David Castle Unicorn Projects, PBS, Washington, D.C.1983
3. Macaulay, David and Caroline Berg Cathedral Unicorn Projects, PBS, Washington, D.C.1994
4. Woods, Michael Art of the Western World: The Classical Ideal Vol. 1 Annenberg/CPB Project, Santa Barbara: 1989
5. Woods, Michael, Art of the Western World: A White Garment of Churches Vol. 2 Annenberg/CPB Project, Santa Barbara: 1989
6. Woods, Michael, Art of the Western World: The Early Renaissance, Vol. 3 Annenberg/CPB Project, Santa Barbara: 1989
7. Various documentaries and travelogues on the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.