-Marcus Tullius Cicero
Course Description: This course will deal with the development of civilization on a world scale from its
beginnings in pre-history to the fifteenth century of the modern era. Beginning with the Paleolithic period,
we will trace the development of organized agriculture, with its attendant technological advances, and their
effects on early civilizations, as well as the subsequent development of political, social, cultural, and
religious institutions.
Lectures: 2 per week. You will be able to review the weekly lectures/PowerPoint presentations on theweb:
Attendance: Attendance is not required as an aspect of your grade. However, this is difficult and unfamiliar
material. Failure to attend on a regular basis may materially affect your grade. There is normally a direct
relationship between consistency of attendance and grades. I do not mind if you are occasionally late, but if
you are late, please be quiet when coming in to the classroom.
Examinations: a six week, twelve week and final exam will be given in this course. Examinations will be
primarily objective in style. This will require that you have a clear grasp of both the lecture material and the
reading assignments. You are responsible for both.
Grading: exams count 33% each. However, your final grade need not necessarily reflect a strict numerical average of your individual grades. Grades will not be "curved": I refuse to penalize those who study by lowering their grades so that slackers can pass. However, some credit may be given for improvement over the course of the semester, if, in my professional judgment, it is warranted. No extra-credit. I have an ethical problem with agreeing to have you do extra work, when all you need to do is to
concentrate on the basic work expected of everyone. Again, no extra credit. Please do not embarrass us
both by asking.
Class participation: Please do the reading assignments and participate in class discussions, as well as
you can, given the size of the class. Failure to do so will not hurt your grade, but participation may cause
you to be given the benefit of the doubt in computing your final average.
Class behavior: This is a large class. As a consequence, you may believe that you able to talk to your
neighbors and to be disruptive to a degree not possible in a smaller classroom. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Please, do not make the mistake of acting as if you do think this. No disruptive behavior will
be tolerated. If you make it difficult for your fellow students to be attentive, you are basically stealing from
them. If you make it difficult for me to lecture, you are doing the same thing, besides being rude and
redneck. If you are causing problems, I will point it out. If I have to do it a second time, you are out of the
class. If you find that you are unable to control your compulsive urge to be rude and disruptive, please don=t
come to class.
Make up your mind prior to the beginning of my lecture whether or not you want to be in class that day. If
you do not, do not come in the first place or else leave before I begin. No hard feelings. If you don't want
to be here, I don't care what you are doing. If you stay, do not get up and walk out while I am
talking...unless you are actively throwing up on your neighbors or are being possessed by ghosts or aliens.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that because you "paid for this class," you are entitled to do whatever you want. That is the attitude of a five year old. There are a whole lot of people here who also paid for this class, who are hard-working, decent people, parents (some single parents) with children and others who have to work full time and spend a large portion of their income on tuition and books, and you are not entitled to make it difficult for them. If you cannot act like an adult, then drop the class. We have the forms available for you, and will be more than happy to supply you with one, if you find that rudeness and thoughtlessness toward others often permeates your social behaviors.
Illness/Flu: If you are sick, don't come to class! If you have the flu, don't come to class! No one wants to be around you and your snotty nose. No one will admire yours stick-to-itiveness; No one cares.
I have edited the syllabus, since the jokes seem to have offended someone in the class. However, all of those "jokes" were based upon real episodes with students in the past and I was just simply trying to make a point in an amusing and non-confrontational way. Apparently, that failed. Sorry
You all asked if you could have access to the PowerPoint Presetnations. If that would be helpful to you then, of course, I am happy to do so. Please bear in mind that I am working on some and they are not there. The links are below.
Cell-phones, beepers, and assorted electronic devices: Turn off your cell-phones, beepers, and other
such devices, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF such as heart or insulin monitors. If I hear a cell-phone, it=s
mine. Unless you are a doctor, nurse, EMT, or a parent with a sick child, there is nothing which cannot wait
until the class is over. If you fall into one of the above categories, let me know now.
Office hours: 107 Rogers-Stout, T 2:30 to 3:30, W 2:45 to 3:45 or else by appointment
Telephone: (423) 439-6691
Email: Burgessw@etsu.edu
History Department Chat Room: http://www.etsu.edu/cas/history/chat.htm
History Department Web Page: http://www.etsu.edu/cas/history/hist.htm
-it is hugh and useful. Please go and look at it and let me know if you have suggestions
for useful additions or pages with links for interesting subjects. Thanks
If there is any student in the class who has need for test-taking or note-taking accommodation,
please feel free to come and discuss this with me.
Books: Buy them!! Read them!!...
Bentley and Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters
Wolfe. Problems and Personalities, vol. 1
Reading assignments: You are responsible for the reading assignments. It is not my job to simply recite
the book to you. You are responsible for the basic information in the books; I am responsible for
explanation and elaboration on that information.
1. Pre-History
Traditions, 8-28
2. Primary Phase Cultures: Mesopotamia and Egypt
Traditions, 32-54; Wolfe, Ch. 1
3. Primary Phase Cultures: India and China
Traditions, 58-99
Wolf Ch. 3 (Confucius), Ch. 5 (Sima Qian), Ch. 6 (Shi
Huangdi)
4. Primary Phase Cultures: the Americas and Oceania
Traditons, 103-124
5. Persia and the Early Hebrews
Traditions, 131-150 Wolfe Ch. 1, (Moses), Ch. 2 (Zoroaster)
6. Classical India and China
Traditions, 153-175 , 177-197
Wolf Ch. 2 (Buddha), Ch. 4 (Mahavira), Ch. 4 (Asoka)
7. Classical Greece
Traditions, 199-223
Wolf Ch. 3 (Plato), Ch. 4 (Diogenes) Ch. 5 (Thucydides)
8. Rome: The Republic and the Empire
Traditions, 225-247
Wolf, Ch. 5
9. Cross-Cultural Exchanges: Europe and Asia: this will be part of other lectures
Traditions, 249-271
10. The Later Roman Empire: Byzantium
Traditions, 280-301
11. The Rise and Spread of Islam
Traditions, 303-325
12. Diffusion of Cultures: Japan, Polynesia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Traditions, 429-449
13. China: The Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties
Traditions, 328-352
14. Medieval Europe
Traditions, 379-400, 451-475
Wolf, Chapter 8, 9
15. The Mongols and Tartars
Traditions, 407-426
16. The Americas, 1000-1500 A.D.: Post-Classical
Traditions, 447-491
Sorry: Quick and dirty list.