1 UGC 112, “World Civilizations since 1500” Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:20 a.m. spring 2009, Knox 104 Professor Claude E. Welch [email protected]; 645-8434 417 Park Office hours: Wednesdays, 2:45-4:30 and by appointment Ben Carlson, TA; [email protected] Office hours: Tuesdays 10:45 - 11:45am and Fridays 12:00 -3:00pm Jenny Kahl, TA; [email protected] Office hours: Tuesdays 10:45 - 11:45am and Wednesdays 1:00- 4:30pm Josh Meddaugh, TA; [email protected] Office hours: Tuesdays 12:00-1:30pm & 3:00-4:30pm and Thursdays 3:00-4:30pm Note: All the TA’s will hold their office hours in Park 506 inside the Political Science Department on the Fifth floor of Park Hall or the Second Floor of the Alfiero Center. Basic philosophy: Globalization provides the major theme of this class. In the past 700 years, dramatic transformation—indeed, revolutions—have marked our globe. Major changes occurred around 1500, in technology (particularly military), in communications (with the spread of printing and literacy), in foodstuffs (with the transportation of new crops between continents), in infection (with the “great gene exchange” after the European “discovery” of the “New World”), in beliefs (the Renaissance and Reformation in the West helped pave the way later for democracy, nationalism, socialism and environmentalism), and in power (through development of a global market and the rise of “blue-water” colonial empires). We start, in short, at an exciting time, at an era when limited connections existed among societies and continue to our electronically-linked world. How were these transformations perceived at the time? What were the key strains, uncertainties and excitement? What were the consequences of change? Who gained, and who lost? How have people from thousands of different societies been brought together economically and politically, if not necessarily culturally or socially? These are major questions we shall probe. I hope we can learn how the “old” affects our 21st century life, and understand how other societies at different times have dealt with the challenges of change. Reading: The major text – Tignor et al., Worlds Together, Worlds Apart -- MUST be purchased and the assigned chapters or selections read with care by the specified dates: it is available at the University Bookstore on campus and at the College Bookstore on Maple Road, in addition to on-line sources. The text can also be purchased at likely a lower cost through the electronic version. Go to http://www.nortonebooks.com/welcome.asp for instructions. An equally inexpensive way is through used book stores. [Because it is an excellent text, Worlds Together is widely available.]. Be sure to give special attention to the introductions and summaries for each chapter, as well as to the key terms (including those circulated electronically each week). Some readings will be available through course reserve. Follow these steps carefully, in order to obtain personal copies of required readings that have been placed on reserve: Open your computer or go to a public facility Go to web browser (Internet Explorer; Mozilla Firefox) Click on UB libraries Click on course reserve (at bottom of column at left, under Quick Links) Enter course number and click go Select article(s) you wish to reprint for personal use Click on its URL (this will require that you do so twice) The article will appear in .pdf format Print, using the print icon on the Adobe screen Be sure to read this syllabus carefully. It contains important information necessary to pass the course with a good grade. Modifications will be made in it as necessary. You will be notified via UB Learns (check it regularly!), in recitations and in lectures. Keep up with all readings!2 Finally, be sure to check at least daily with a major international news source such as www.nytimes.com or www.bbc.com for information. You are expected to be able to link historical and contemporary events in this course. The examinations may include questions from current events. Note that the readings aren’t that long IF you keep up with the assignments. Don’t cram them all in the night before recitation or tests, but establish a regular routine. We’ve tried to keep the work to 15-25 pages per class, which shouldn’t be overwhelming. You definitely should read each selection twice (before class to get information in your mind, which will be critically examined in lecture and in the days immediately before the exams). In addition, give close attention to the questions posed at the start of each chapter, and to the summaries at their ends. It’s a very good idea to share ideas with friends: don’t just go over the same personal notes again and again; quiz each other on key terms (these will be circulated each week via UB Learns – be sure to click on “show all announcements”); and guess what you think are likely to be areas in which you will be tested. These techniques will help you get a reasonable grade. You are strongly advised to check your knowledge regularly by going to the website: http://www.wwnorton.com/worlds. Select the appropriate link for the Tignor text we are using. You will find numerous questions on which you can practice before the exams. Some items will be drawn from these practice tests for the exams themselves. The examinations themselves will be open-book. However, don’t expect that you will be able to answer questions without careful prior reading of all assignments. The tests are designed so that you can’t simply go to the index and find answers that way. Grading: In-class tests (to be given February 17 and April 2) 25% each; total 50% Final exam, during finals period 30% Recitation participation 20% (This means you cannot get an A in the course if you are lax in coming to the recitations, where your attendance is required. Lectures are also important, since information from them will be used on tests.) All examinations will be graded numerically, with the numbers then used for APPROXIMATE letter grades. The cut-off points will be announced on UB Learns, and are intended to give you a sense of where you stand. Cut-off points will be determined for each test. The final determination of grades rests with the instructor, who will decide the dividing line between (say) B- and C+. There are likely to be approximately 25% A (“high honors”), 30% B (“honors”), 30% C (“pass”), 10% D (“minimal