History 101 Western Civilization to 1600 Northern Virginia Community College |
Welcome |
Themes |
Readings |
Grading and Due Dates |
Expectations |
Description of Course Elements |
Course Schedule |
Welcome to History 101 |
Themes |
Readings |
Grading and Due Dates |
Course Element | Percentage of Course Grade | Due Date |
Attendance and Participation | 10% | Every Class Session |
Discussion Board Posts |
15% |
Every Week |
Source Criticism Paper (2 pages) | 10% | Source Proposal due February 4 Finished Paper due February 11 |
Autocracy and Democracy Paper (2 pages) | 10% | February 25 |
Midterm Exam | 5% |
March 4 |
Annotated Bibliography Part 1 | 10% | March 25 |
Annotated Bibliography
Part 2 |
10% | April 1 |
Final
Project |
25% | Project Topic Proposal Due January 28 Finished Project Due April 22 |
Final Exam | 5% | May 6 |
Percentage |
Final Course Grade |
Above 90% |
A |
80-89% | B |
70-79% | C |
60-69% | D |
Below 60% |
F |
Expectations |
Disruptive Behavior: Please be considerate. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Private conversations during lecture or class discussions all distract and disturb your instructor and your classmates, and will count against your participation grade. Repeated instances of rude behavior may result your removal from the classroom. If you have a question or a comment on the course material, please raise your hand.
Announcements: If there is something I need to communicate to the class, I will post an announcement to the course Canvas page. It is the your responsibility to check the course's Canvas page and your College email account in a timely manner in order to receive information on the substitute assignment and when it is due. You should adjust the settings of your Canvas account to make sure that you are promptly notified.Description of Course Elements |
Discussion | Due Date |
Introduction Discussion Post | January 21 |
Neolithic Revolution Discussion Post |
January 24 |
Women in the Ancient West Discussion Post |
January 31 |
Religion and Authority in Ancient Egypt
Discussion Post |
February 7 |
Hebrew Bible Discussion Post |
February 14 |
Socrates Discussion Post |
February 21 |
Rome Discussion Post |
February 28 |
New Testament Discussion Post |
March 14 |
Constantinople Discussion Post | March 21 |
Al-Andalus Discussion Post | March 28 |
Women in the Medieval West Discussion Post | April 4 |
Crusades Discussion Post | April 11 |
Conquest Discussion Post |
April 25 |
For each of the Primary Sources in Part 1
your annotation should include:
Part 2 of your Annotated Bibliography should include:
Sources:
- Do Your Own Thing (If You Can Convince Me): You can also propose your own format for a Final Project, but you will need to explain why you think this particular format is interesting and a good way to discuss your particular topic. If I agree, I will approve the proposal; if not, you will need to pick one of the other Final Project formats. The format also will need to meet the same requirements as the others in terms of both page length/word count and number and types of sources used. Power Point or other slide-based presentations are extremely boring, and definitely will not be approved.
Directory of World History Primary Sources
Final Project Element | Description | Due Date |
Proposal | You should submit a Final Project Proposal using the
relevant link in Canvas which describes the option and
topic. You may not turn in an Annotated Bibliography or a
finished Final Project without getting your Topic Proposal
approved in advance. |
Jan. 28 |
Annotated Bibliography, Parts 1 and 2 |
You should
submit a bibliography of the sources which you intend to use
for your Final Project. The bibliography should include at
least 5 primary sources (historical documents from the past)
and 5 scholarly secondary sources (including at least one
scholarly journal article and one scholar monarch). Each
source should be accompanied by a brief paragraph of
analysis (See the Annotated Bibliography
assignment description for more detailed information). |
Part 1: March 25 Part 2: April 1 |
Finished Final Project |
You should submit a Final
Project using the appropriate link on the course Canvas
page. See below for complete descriptions of the various
Final Project Options. |
April 22 |
“Day In The Life” Video Option:
For this version of the Final Project you will need to choose a time period and region relevant to some aspect of the subject matter of this class. Then select three different people to portray. They can be either specific individuals from history, or different types of people (ie, from different social classes, professions, nationalities, ethnicities, genders, etc.).
Once your characters have been approved, you should craft a video of approximately 5 minutes (so 15 minutes total), where each character introduces themselves and discusses what their daily life is like. Consider discussing topics such as the character’s work, living conditions, family relationships, food, political and social opinions, etc. The idea is to provide as vivid, interesting, and historically accurate portrayal as possible. Feel free to use appropriate accents or slang if you like. You can use friends or family members in your videos if you like, as long as you are the one who writes the script.
Important stuff that you shouldn’t forget:
- Your video should advance a clear, specific argument or thesis about what the lives of the three people portrayed reveal about the particular era in which they lived.
- You also should include a list of all of your sources at the end of the video.
- All final project videos must be posted on YouTube or Vimeo. You must upload the link for the instructor to grade. Do not set your video to “private” or select any other access restrictions. It must be public for the instructor to grade.
- In order to receive a grade for the Final Project, you must submit your written script and a link to the video using the appropriate link in Canvas.
Here are some suggestions for software to use when editing your videos:
- iMovie
- Movie Maker
- Final Cut Express
- Camtasia
- WeVideo
For this version of the Final Project you will need to choose a time period and region relevant to some aspect of the subject matter of this class. Then select at least five specific geographic sites or events to discuss. These can be specific buildings or monuments, neighborhoods, dwellings, shops, taverns, battles, revolutions, speeches, spectacles, festivals, ceremonies, etc.
Once your choice has been approved, you should craft a written narrative in which you visit each of the sites in turn, describing what you witness at stop along your journey. Make sure to mention what you see, hear, small, taste, do, etc. The idea is to provide as vivid, interesting, and historically accurate portrayal as possible. It is up to you whether you adopt the persona of a traveler from the time period in question, or travel back in time in some manner. You’ve got a lot of leeway here-- be creative!
Your finished product should be in the form of a website which is posted online, and which is viewable by anyone. The website should be a visually interesting as possible, and should include a variety of (correctly sourced and cited) images and/or maps.
Important stuff that you shouldn’t forget:
- Your Travel Log website should advance a clear, specific argument or thesis about what the sites visited and/or events witnessed reveal about the nature of life at that particular place and time in history.
- You also should include a list of all of your sources somewhere in the website.
- The website should be publicly viewable, and should not require a password to access.
- In order to receive a grade for the Final Project, you must submit the weblink for your Travel Log website as well as a .pdf, .doc, or .rtf file containing the text of your Travel Log (so it can be checked for plagiarism) using the appropriate link in Canvas.
Here are some suggestions for free public web hosting for your website:
- Google sites
- Blogger
- Wix
- Weebly
- WordPress
- TravelDiaries
1) Provide a Time Line which lists in chronological order what you think are the ten most important events in the history of Western civilization from pre-history through the 1st century CE. Each item on your Time Line should contain the following information:
- What happened.
- When it happened (approximate dates are okay).
- Why it happened.
- The major Consequences of the event.
- How the event helps us understand what life was like in the past.
2) An analysis of what you think are the most important developments or changes in the history of Western civilization from pre-history through the 1st century CE for each one of the four class themes. Refer to specific primary sources we have read for the class which back up your arguments. Write a substantial paragraph for each theme:
- Government
- Religion
- Gender
- Social Class
1) Provide a Time Line which lists in chronological order what you think are the ten most important events in the history of Western civilization from between 1-1600 CE. Each item on your Time Line should contain the following information:
- What happened.
- When it happened (approximate dates are okay).
- Why it happened.
- The major Consequences of the event.
- How the event helps us understand what life was like in the past.
2) An analysis of what you think are the most important developments or changes in the history of Western civilization from between 1-1600 CE for each one of the four class themes. Refer to specific primary sources we have read for the class which back up your arguments.Write a substantial paragraph for each theme:
- Government
- Religion
- Gender
- Social Class
Course Schedule |
Wednesday, January
19: Course Introduction |
Discussion
Readings on Cognitive Biases: Confirmation
Bias, The
Backfire Effect (This contains salty
language. Feel free to read the classroom
version if you prefer to avoid that),
The
Texas
Sharpshooter Fallacy,
The
Dunning-Kruger
Effect. Watch "Is History B.S.?" |
Hybrid Activities This Week: | Introduction Discussion Post, due January 21: You should post an introduction on the appropriate class discussion board.
|
Assignments to Complete: | Read through the
entire syllabus, and submit the
Introduction Assignment by January 21 using
the appropriate link under "Assignments" in the
class Canvas page. |
Wednesday, January 26: Sources, "Civilization,"
and Narratives |
Discussion Readings:
The
Ceramic Venus of Dolni Vestonice; Prehistoric
Venus Figurines (30,000-20,000 BC)
Watch Is Western Civilization B.S.? Watch What's The Difference Between Primary & Secondary Sources? Brooks, "Introduction" |
Hybrid Activities This Week: A Neolithic Revolution? |
Watch Was
the Invention of Agriculture B.S.? Watch "First Civilizations: Part 3" (53:46, PBS, 2018, Requires MyNOVA login to view in the NOVA Library's "Film's On Demand" Database)" Neolithic Revolution Discussion Post Due January 24. After watching "First Civilizations: Part 3," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "What relationship do the producers of this video think there was between the origins of 'civilization' and the practice of agriculture? There are several examples of ancient peoples who sometimes lived in cities without practicing agriculture. Likewise we know of some ancient people who abandoned farming in favor of hunting and foraging. Given those facts, do you think the video places too much emphasis on the link between civilization and agriculture? Why or why not?" Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | Final Project Proposal Due
January 28 |
Wednesday, February 2: Bronze
Age Society |
Discussion Reading: Gilgameš
and Aga (c. 2600 BC); Excerpts
from the Code of Hammurabi (c. 1780 BC) Brooks, "Chapter 1: The Origins of Civilization" "Chapter 2: Egypt" |
Hybrid Activities This Week: Women in the Ancient West | Watch "Civilization—The
Ascent of Woman: A 10,000 Year Story, Episode 1"
(58:42, DCD, 2015, Also available in
the NOVA Library's "Film's On
Demand" Database) Women in the Ancient West Discussion Post Due January 31. After watching "Civilization—The Ascent of Woman: A 10,000 Year Story, Episode 1," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "What was the status of women in the ancient West? Did different ancient societies treat women differently? How was the patriarchal power structure enforced in the ancient world?" Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | Source
Proposal for Source Criticism Paper due
February 4. Make sure to read the directions for the Source Criticism Paper in the syllabus CAREFULLY before filling out the form. Also, you might want to watch this video: How to Find a Scholarly Journal Article Last day to withdraw with refund is February 3. |
Wednesday,
February 9. Ancient Paganism |
Discussion Readings: Enheduanna, "The Exaltation of Innana" (c.2300 BC); Penitential Prayer to Every God; Gilgamesh Flood Narrative Brooks, "Chapter 3: The Bronze Age and The Iron Age" Watch How Can You Tell If A Website Is B.S. Or Not? Watch Was Ancient Paganism B.S.? |
Hybrid Activities This Week: Religion and Authority in Ancient Egypt | Watch "First Civilizations: Part 2" (53:46, PBS, 2018, Requires MyNOVA login to view in the NOVA Library's "Film's On Demand" Database) Religion and Authority in Egypt Discussion Post Due February 7. After watching "First Civilizations: Part 2," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "What was the relationship between political authority and religion like in ancient Egypt? How did ancient Egyptian rulers attempt to reinforce their claims to authority through the construction of monuments and buildings? Do leaders still use religion and architecture in this way in the 21st century?" Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | Source Criticism Paper due February 11 (Your sources MUST be approved by the professor before you turn this in). |
Wednesday,
February 16. Yahwism and the Origins of Monotheism |
Discussion
Readings: Excerpts
from
The Book of Genesis (1-3, 6-8, 22); Excerpts
from
the Book of Deuteronomy (5, 9,
12-13, 21-22). Campbell, "Ancient Religion," "Evolution Toward Monotheism, "Israelite Religion;" Brooks, "Chapter 4: The Archaic Age of Greece"; "Chapter 5: Persia and the Greek Wars" |
Hybrid Activities
This Week: |
Watch "Did King David's Empire Exist?: The Bible's Buried Secrets, Part I" (52:23, BBC, 2011, also available in the NOVA Library's "Film's On Demand" Database) Hebrew Bible Discussion Post Due February 14. Write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "After viewing 'Did King David's Empire Exist?: The Bible's Buried Secrets, Part I,' how well do the findings of archaeology match the content of the Bible? Should the Bible be used as a source to study ancient history? Why or why not?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Wednesday,
February 23. Greek Democracy |
Discussion
Reading: Excerpts from the poetry of Sappho
of Lesbos, c. 630 BCE; Aristotle
on
the Good Wife BCE Watch Was The Iliad B.S.? Watch Is Democracy B.S.? Watch Evidence, Citations, and Plagiarism: Who Cares? Brooks, "Chapter 6: The Classical Age of Greece; "Chapter 7: The Hellenistic Age" |
Hybrid Activities This Week: | Socrates Discussion Post Due February 21. After watching "Socrates: Genius of the Ancient World," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "According to this video, what was original or new about Socrates' thinking? Why was he so controversial in classical Athens, and what does his career reveal about the strengths and weaknesses of democracy as a form of government?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | Autocracy and
Democracy Paper due February 25 |
Wednesday,
March 2. Rome: Peace or Domination? |
Brooks, " |
Hybrid
Activities This Week: |
Watch
"How the Romans Changed the World"
(50:41, ZDF, 2014 Requires
MyNOVA login to view in the NOVA
Library's "Film's On Demand"
Database) Rome Discussion Post Due February 28. After watching "How the Romans Changed the World," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "According to this video, why was Rome so successful in its expansion? What impact did Rome have on the people leaving in or near its empire? On balance, do you think Roman influence on the ancient world was mostly positive or negative? Why?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | Midterm
Exam, due March 4. |
Wednesday, March 16. Early Christianity: Monotheism Transformed | Discussion
Reading: Excerpts
from
the Gospel According to Luke;
Excerpts from
the Letters of St.
Paul
Campbell, "Early Monotheism;" Brooks, "Chapter 10: The Late Empire and Christianity" |
Hybrid Activities
This Week: |
Watch: Was
The Spread of Early Christianity B.S.? Watch "From Jesus to Christ, Part 3" (51:10, Frontline, 1998, also available in the NOVA Library's "Film's On Demand" Database) New Testament Discussion Post Due March 14. Write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "After Watching 'From Jesus to Christ, Part 3,' how clear a picture of the life of the historical Jesus can we get from the New Testament documents? How are these documents useful for understanding Christianity?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Wednesday,
March 23. The
Fall of Rome: Collapse or Continuity? |
Discussion
Reading: Procopius,
The Plague (542) Watch Was The Fall of Rome B.S.? Brooks, "Chapter 11: Byzantium" |
Hybrid Activities
This Week: |
Watch "Byzantium: Tale of Three
Cities—Constantinople" (51:25, BBC, 2013, Requires
MyNOVA login to view in the NOVA Library's "Film's
On Demand" Database) Constantinople Discussion Post Due March 21. After watching "Byzantium: Tale of Three Cities-- Constantinople," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "According to this video, why was Constantinople so attractive to so many different Christian and Muslim leaders, and how did they use the city and its monuments to bolster their own authority?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: |
Annotated
Bibliography Part 1 due
March 25 Last day to withdraw from the class without grade penalty is March 26 |
Wednesday,
March 30.
Islam: Monotheism Transformed Again |
Discussion Reading: Excerpts
from
the Qu'ran (c. 7th
century) Brooks, "Chapter 12: Islam and the Caliphates" |
Hybrid Activities This Week: | Watch "Ornament
Of The World" (1:55:04, PBS, 2019,
also
available in the
NOVA Library's
"Film's On
Demand"
Database)
Al-Andalus Discussion Post Due March 28. After watching "Ornament of the World," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "According to this video, what was the relationship like between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in medieval Spain? How and why did those relations change over time?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | Annotated Bibliography Part 2 due April 1 |
Wednesday,
April 6.
The Dark Ages? |
Discussion
Reading: Excerpts
from
Beowulf,
(c. 11th c. CE) Brooks, "Chapter 13: Early Medieval Europe" |
Hybrid
Activities This Week: |
Watch "Power—The
Ascent of Woman: A 10,000 Year Story"
(58:41, DCD, 2015, Also available in the
NOVA Library's "Film's On Demand" Database) Women in the Medieval West Discussion Post Due April 4. After watching "Power—The Ascent of Woman: A 10,000 Year Story, Episode 3," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "How did Empress Theodora, Hildegard of Bingen, Christine de Pizan, and Roxelana (no need to discuss Nur Jahan, who did not live in the Western world) challenge the gender norms of their respective eras? To what extent were these challenges to patriarchal restrictions successful?" Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Wednesday, April 13. The High Middle Ages | Discussion
Reading: Excerpts from The Book of
Margery Kempe (15th c.): The
Birth of Her First Child and Her First
Vision; Her
Pride and Attempts to Start a Business; Margery and Her
Husband Reach a Settlement. Brooks, "Volume 2, Chapter 1: The High Middle Ages" |
Hybrid
Activities This Week: |
Discussion Readings: Urban
II Call the First Crusade at Council of Clermont,
as reported by Fucher of Chartres (1095); Usama ibn
Munqidh, Excerpts
from The Book of Contemplation (12th c.) Watch "Holy War: The Crusades" (2012, 48:11 min., requires MyNOVA login to view in the NOVA Library's "Film's On Demand" Database) Crusades Discussion Post Due April 11. After watching "Holy War: The Crusades," write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions: "According to this video, why was the First Crusade undertaken? How successful were the Crusades at achieving their goals, and what effect did they on medieval Christian and Muslim societies?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Wednesday,
April 20.
Medieval Transformations |
Discussion Reading: Self-Government
in Medieval Ipswich (1200); Boccaccio's
Decameron
on the Black Death in Florence, 1348; Watch Was The Black Death B.S.? Brooks, "Chapter 2: The Crises of the Middle Ages" , "Chapter 3: The Renaissance" |
Monday, April
18. The Black Death Hybrid Activities This Week: |
Just work on wrapping up the Final Project. No
hybrid assignment this week. |
Assignments to Complete: | Final
Project due April 22 |
Wednesday, April 27. Rebirth? | Discussion
Reading: Dante Alighieri, Excerpt from The Inferno (1320) Brooks, "Chapter 4: Politics in the Renaissance Era" "Chapter 6: Reformations" "Chapter 5: European Exploration" |
Hybrid Activities This Week: |
Watch
Was
Columbus B.S.? Watch "Guns, Germs, and Steel: Conquest" (2004, 54:33 min., National Geographic) Conquest Discussion Post Due April 25. Write a post of at least 100 words answering the following questions. "According to Jared Diamond in 'Guns, Germs, and Steel: Conquest,' what factors best explain the European conquest of the Americas? Do you find his argument convincing? Why or why not?" and post it to the appropriate class discussion board. Your post must make it clear that you have watched the assigned video. Then you should also read all of the postings by your classmates and respond to at least 2 of them in some substantial way. |
Assignments to Complete: | No late assignments will be accepted
after April 29
Final Exam due May 6 |