College of Arts and Sciences Department of History Georgia State University Spring 2009 Anthony Clark Vines Office: History Dept, Grad. Student Offices, 21st floor, 34 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30302 Phone: 404-413-6358 Office Hours: T-TR 11:45-12:45 p.m. or by appointment. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; clark@ clarkvines.com (For best results, use the 1st listing) HIS 1111: SURVEY OF WORLD HISTORY TO 1500. CRN #: 12404 IMPORTANT: Please read the “Georgia State University Policy Statements” in the GSU Student Handbook (available online at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwcam/incept/successtips.html ) before the first class. Class Meetings: M-W 7:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m., General Classroom Bldg., Room #421 *PLEASE NOTE* concerning course withdrawal, March 11 (03/11/2009) is the last day to withdraw and possibly receive a "W". Please see me PRIOR to that date if you have any concerns regarding your grade. Students with Disabilities Students with disabilities requiring accommodations must be registered with the Office of Disability Services before an instructor can modify instruction or expectations. The Office of Disability Services may be contacted at 404-651-1487 (TDD 404-463-9048). Any student with a disability who may require special accommodations is requested to make an appointment with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Students must self-identify so that arrangements can be made according to University policy. Course Requirements: This is an introductory course and as such, there are no prerequisites. However, a general desire to learn will be infinitely useful. Course Description This course will trace the evolution of the world from an assemblage of relatively isolated regions through 1500 C.E. (and possibly, slightly beyond). The focus will be on tracing the origins of globalization and its relation to European hegemony through invasions and colonization. Additionally, we will consider the contributions of the non-western world to this effect and how the assemblage of these factors helped shaped the early modern world. By examining the interconnectedness of global histories and analyzing the social, cultural, political, economic, demographic, and ecological implications that created it, an understanding of this history may be obtained. Class lectures and readings will emphasize issues of power imbalances, diversity, and the active effects of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and nationality. The course will draw upon materials and pedagogical approaches from other disciplines, such as political science, sociology, anthropology, literature, and art. Themes The primary theme within the course will be considerations of the diversity of the human experience. Lectures and coursework will follow along this line. Students are encouraged to consider how gender, race, ethnicity, class, religion, community, and nation contribute to our current understanding of history in a global sense. Consideration will be given to technological developments and their impact in history. Additionally, the course will attempt to explain how technology impacted numerous social groups and2societies from the past in a various ways. Looking at global interactions across time and space, this course will also examine how environmental awareness shaped human interactions with their natural world. Essential Skills In order to complete this course, the follow essential skills will be called upon and otherwise, utilized: critical thinking and reading, ethical reasoning, concise, effective grammatical skills, and general oral communicative skills. Course Objectives The course will promote understanding of different cultures as they have developed in global, political, social, cultural, economic, and environmental contexts. It will provide the opportunity for students to study historical development of local and regional societies, and to cross disciplinary and geographical boundaries to appreciate an increasingly interdependent and multi-cultural world. This pedagogical approach will emphasize the interconnectedness and uniqueness of all peoples. It will explain the contributions of culturally diverse groups to the formation of the modern world, while highlighting their achievements. The course's potential is exemplary for instilling the skills and values of world citizenship and for relating to people different from oneself. At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Recognize, define, and relate examples of the diversity of the human experience as it concerns global history. 2. Identify, explain, describe, and discuss different cultures as they have developed in global, political, social, cultural, economic, and environmental contexts. 3. Interpret the major events in world history (within the scope of this course), and demonstrate understanding through applied written exercises. 4. Analyze and critique different interpretations of historical world events. 5. Propose, design, and compose a final written work based on knowledge gained and personal interpretation of a significant world event. 6. Support and argue for personal interpretive positions within course discussions. Course Structure This is the first course in a two semester sequence on World History at GSU. These courses are intended to be large surveys that evolve into smaller discussion sections. The two course sequence utilizes the common themes of (A) the globalization process; and (B) cultural change resulting from this process. The general format of the course will be: interactive lectures, audio-visual materials, intensive reading and writing, and small group discussions. Course Requirements • Grading File: Each student shall keep in a file folder a copy of all work returned. A full accounting of returned materials at the conclusion of the semester shall account for 5% of the student’s grade. This is an either or proposition. The student either has all returned articles or does not. It is the responsibility of each student to maintain this file. Substitute copies will not be accepted. • Readings and Participation: Students are expected to complete weekly readings assignments and to evaluate them carefully and critically. Weekly class discussions will follow each assigned reading. Participation is required and shall represent 10% of the course grade dependent upon said discussions of the material. This class will also require