Course Schedule:
Below you will find a weekly schedule listing topics to be covered, readings both in the textbook and on-line, assignments and exam dates. Note--because of the peculiarities of the Fall 2007 calendar the weeks below will run from Thursday to Thursday.
Click here to go to the textbook homepage with tutorial quizzes
Sept 6 Week 1: The Emergence of Civilization Topics: I. Introduction II. The Emergence of Civilization Spielvogel, pp. 1-8 III. Mesopotamian Civilization Spielvogel, pp. 8-16 Outlines: The Beginnings of Civilization Documents: The Epic of Gilgamesh (excerpt) The Story of Noah--Book of Genesis Hammurabi's Code Web Resources: Chauvet Pont-d'Arc Cave Art Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Near Eastern Page
Sept 13 Week 2: Ancient Civilizations Topics: I. Egyptian Civilization, Spielvogel, pp. 16-29 II. The Ancient Hebrews Spielvogel, pp. 30-37 III. The Spread of Civilization Spielvogel, pp. 40-49 Outlines: Mesopotamian and Egyptian Civilization The Spread of Civilization: 1700-1100BC The Ancient Hebrews Documents: Hymn to the Nile The Book of Exodus Web Resources: Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Egyptian Page Harrapa (Indus River Valley Civilization)
Sept 20 Week 3: The Rise of the Greeks First quiz–Sept 20 Topics: I. The Early Greeks Spielvogel, pp. 50-55 II. The Rise of the Polis Spielvogel, pp. 55-62 III. The Classical Age Spielvogel, pp. 62-69 Outlines: The Origins of Greek Civilization Archaic Greece Documents: Homer, The Iliad (excerpt) Thucydides, The Funeral Oration of Pericles Plato, The Apology Web Resources Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean The Perseus Project Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Ancient Greece
Sept 27 Week 4: Greek Civilization Topics: I. The Classical Achievement: Greek Civilization Spielvogel, pp. 70-80 II. Alexander the Great Spielvogel, pp. 82-88 III. Hellenistic Civilization Speilvogel, 88-101 Outlines: Classical Greece The Hellenistic World Documents: Plato's Republic: The Allegory of the Cave Aristotle: The Politics Arrian, Speech of Alexander the Great Web Resources: The Ancient Greek World Alexander the Great on the Web In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great
Oct. 4 Week 5: The Greatness of Rome Topics: I. The Roman Republic Spielvogel, pp. 103-122 II. The Decline of the Republic and the Age of Augustus Spielvogel, pp. 122-131, 133-138 II. The Roman Empire Spielvogel, pp. 138-151 Outlines: The Rise of the Roman Republic The Roman Empire Documents: The Twelve Tables Cicero, On the Laws Plutarch, The Assassination of Julius Caesar Horace and Virgil: Hymns to the Glory of Rome Quintilian: The Ideal Education Web Resources: Daily Life in Ancient Rome The Forvm Romanvm
Oct 11 Week 6: The Decline of Rome Topics: I. The Breakdown of the Empire Spielvogel, pp. 151-154 II. The Rise of Christianity Spielvogel, pp. 154-160 III. The Germanic Kingdoms Spielvogel, pp. 162-170 Outlines: The Rise of Christianity Late Antiquity: The "Fall" of the Roman Empire Documents: The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas Tertullian, On Pagan Learning Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations St. Augustine of Hippo, The City of God Web Resources: From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians St. Augustine's Home Page
Oct 18 Week 7: Heirs to the Classical Tradition Mid-Term Exam–October 16 Mid-Term Review Sheet Topics: I. The "Dark Ages": Western Christendom, 500-750 Spielvogel, pp. 170-179 II Byzantium Spielvogel, pp. 197-203, 228-232 II. Islam Spielvogel, pp. 203-207, 232-235 Outlines: The Empire of Byzantium The Rise of Islam The Western Kingdoms, 600-900 Documents: The Justinian Code The Sunnah (Traditions of Mohammed) The Rule of St. Benedict Venerable Bede, The Conversion of England Web Resources: Byzantine Studies on the Net The Glory of Byzantium Islam: Empire of Faith
Oct 25 Week 8: The Early Middle Ages Topics: I. The Carolingian Renaissance Spielvogel, pp. 209-219 II. The Viking Invasions Spielvogel, pp. 219-222 III. The Origins of Medieval Feudalism Spielvogel, pp. 222-228 Outlines: The Carolingian Renaissance The Foundations of Medieval Europe Documents: Einhard, The Life of Charlemagne On the Ravages of the Norsemen On Feudal Obligations Web Resources: NOVA--The Vikings
Nov 1 Week 9: The High Middle Ages Topics: I. The Rural life in the High Middle Ages Spielvogel, pp.217-225 II. The Medieval Town Spielvogel, pp. 225-232 III. Intellectual Life in Medieval Europe Spielvogel, pp. 232-241 Outlines: The Medieval World The Medieval City Intellectual Life in Medieval Europe Documents: The Labors of the Poor Adelard of Bath, Natural Questions Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologia Web Resources: Knighthood, Chivalry and Tournaments
Nov 8 Week 10: The High Middle Ages, continued Topics: I. Medieval Monarchy Spielvogel, pp. 243-255 II. The Medieval Church Spielvogel, pp. 255-264 III. The Crusades Spielvogel, pp. 264-271 Outlines: The Medieval Church Church and State in the High Middle Ages Medieval Monarchy: England, France and the Crusades Documents: The Investiture Controversy Chronicle of the Abbey of St. Edmunds (read selections) Web Resources: Netserf--the Internet Connection for Medieval Resources The Medieval Crusades
Nov 15 Week 11: The Late Middle Ages Second Quiz, April 9 Topics: I. The Catastrophic Fourteenth Century Spielvogel, pp. 273-289 II. The Decline of the Church Spielvogel, pp. 289-293 III. Creativity out of Chaos: New Directions in Culture Spielvogel, pp. 293-300 Outlines: The Late Middle Ages Documents: The Black Death from Boccaccio's Decameron The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 The Great Schism: Manifesto of the Revolting Cardinals, 1378 Web Resources: The Tales of Jean Froissart
Nov 22 Week 12: Thanksgiving break--Late Middle Ages continued.
Nov 29 Week 13: The Renaissance I. The Italian Renaissance Spielvogel, pp. 302-309; 319-326 II. Humanism and the Print Revolution Spielvogel, pp. 315-319 III. Renaissance Politics Spielvogel, pp. 309-315; 327-334 Outlines: The Renaissance Renaissance Politics The Print Revolution Documents: Pico della Mirandola, Oration on the Dignity of Man Machiavelli, The Prince Web Resources: The Sistine Chapel: an on-line tour
Dec 6 Week 14: The Reformation Topics: I. Luther and the the Protestant Reformation Spielvogel, pp. 336-347 II. The Spread of the Protestantism Spielvogel, pp. 347-355 III. The Counter-Reformation Spielvogel, pp. 356-359 Outlines: The Protestant Reformation Documents: Martin Luther: Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion (excerpt) St. Ignatius Loyola: Spiritual Exercises Web Resources: Project Wittenburg
Final Exam Review Sheet
Final Exam: Dec 18, period I (8:45-10:25)