HIST 151: History of Western Civilization to 1650

Course Overview

Welcome to History 151, the History of Western Civilization to 1650. During the next fifteen weeks, we will survey the history of Western civilization from its earliest roots in the Ancient Near East to its "early modern" manifestations in seventeenth-century Europe.

Through weekly textbook and supplementary readings, you will be introduced to some of the major social, political, intellectual, and cultural forces and institutions that have shaped the course of Western civilization. You will meet "great" and "ordinary" people whose ideas, values, behaviors, and actions both reflected and shaped Western civilization.

While this course explores many human events, ideas, and behaviors, it will be guided above all by three themes:

1. how people determined "what is the good life," and how this changed or remained the same over time
2. how people determined the nature of "truth" and "reality," and how this changed or remained the same over time
3. how individuals and societies constructed identities and how they changed or remained the same over time.

We will look, for example, at how people at various points in history, from Socrates to Descartes, tried to establish truth. And we will examine how people established their identity--how they understood themselves--as both individuals and groups. In doing so, we will take into account what historians describe as "structure" and "agency" that is, how specific historical contexts impinged upon people's lives and their quest for truth and self-understanding, and also how they, as historical agents, actively and creatively shaped both in determining what, for them, was "the good life."

top of page

Required Texts and Readings

The required texts are available from Higher Grounds at the Friday Center. You can order the books online, or you can print out the book order form to fax or mail with payment for texts as indicated on the form. Note: Higher Grounds sells the edition required for the course; if you purchase the textbooks elsewhere, make sure you purchase the correct edition, which is indicated below by the ISBN next to each book. (No substitutes.)

There are four required texts for this course:

Mortimer Chambers et al., The Western Experience Volume 1: to the Eighteenth Century, 9th edition (2005), ISBN 0-07-325999-3

Keith Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome, Cambridge University Press (1994), ISBN 0-521-37887-7

Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return of Martin Guerre, Harvard University Press (1983), ISBN 0-674-76691-1

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, Hackett Publishing Company (1995), ISBN 0-87220-316-6

The other required reading materials are available free via Web sites or UNC Library's electronic reserves.

On average, you can expect to read 80-100 pages per week. Note that Lessons 6, 7, and 12 have more reading than the others.

With most of the readings I've included some links to optional Web sites that contain images, timelines, and other relevant material. These are for you to explore as you please. They will concern that week's subject and will enrich your understanding of current and past events. Again, these sources are completely optional, but should you veer off the beaten path and explore some of these sites, please let us know in the discussion forum what you think of them--and any other sources that you may discover on your own.

top of page

Course Requirements

• Rules for E-mail
• Grading
• Discussion Forum Participation
• Exams
• Museum Report

Rules for E-mail

The most persistent problem in online classes is that instructors sometimes fail to receive student e-mails--including e-mailed assignments. Most often, it turns out that students have simply typed the e-mail address incorrectly. If I were teaching this class in person, and if you were taking this class in person, we could take care of any communication glitches informally. But we cannot do this so easily in a cyberclass. We need a more formal system to make certain we are communicating.

Therefore, I have developed the following "Rules for e-mail in HIST 151" that will help to make certain you receive full credit for all the work that you do.

1. All e-mail messages must include HIST 151 in the subject line, otherwise they will not be routed to the correct mailbox and will be lost. If you are submitting an assignment, also include the name of the assignment and your name in the subject line (example: HIST151-MidtermExam-Joe Smith).
2. If you must change your e-mail address during the course, see Course Mechanics: E-mail.
3. If you use an e-mail filter, see Course Mechanics: E-mail.
4. If you do not receive an exam grade from me, I have not graded your exam. Re-send it, explaining that this is your second attempt!
5. Be proactive. I should always respond to every e-mail message within a day or two. If I ever fail to respond to any e-mail or paper you have sent me, it is almost certainly because I have not seen it. Don't hesitate, for even a second, to let me know that you are waiting for a response!
6. Run a virus scan each week!
7. Arrange access to a backup computer. This is a computer-based class, so do not wait until the last moment. Backup your work and have a backup plan if your computer fails. At no time whatsoever will I accept as a legitimate excuse the lack of a computer or a computer failure for late exams or discussion participation.

back to Requirements menu

Grading

Your grade should reflect what you have learned in this course. That means you have to communicate to me what you have learned. Even if you have studied hard and have worked and learned brilliantly, you must communicate that brilliance through your participation in the discussion forums and on your exams.

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

• Discussion forum participation: 40 percent
• Midterm exam: 25 percent
• Final exam: 25 percent
• Museum report: 10 percent

back to Requirements menu

Discussion Forum Participation

Why discussion? The discussion forum will be the place where your thoughts regarding the material will be of use to your classmates--where they may answer your questions and then debate the answers. This course depends on your participation. Learning takes place best in dialogue with others, and since this course takes place in cyberspace, we need this forum to replace all the ways in which students normally interact with each other. As individuals, you will draw different lessons from the readings, from my lesson notes, and from your discussion forums. You will invent interesting and memorable ways to think through and remember what we are learning. The entire class will benefit from your thoughts.

Each week I will assign you a discussion forum grade, which will be based on the following criteria:

• You must participate three times each week on at least three separate days to receive a grade for that week. You must start one conversation yourself, and you must respond to two other posts submitted by your classmates. This will ensure that the discussion forum remains interactive and that it is not inundated with contributions at the last minute on Sunday evening. You may post on the forum up until midnight for credit.
• You cannot make up for absences on the discussion forum by posting to forums for previous weeks.
• In your postings, use specific quotations and illustrations from the readings (show that you've done the reading). Give page number citations in a parenthetical citation so the rest of the class can find where you got your ideas and quotations. Here is an example of a parenthetical citation: The invention of moveable type was a technological advance that helped spread the ideas of the Protestant Reformation (Chambers, p. 276).

Definition of participation: Participating in the discussion forum means that you are engaging thoughtfully and courteously every week. Each week, you must participate at least three times on three different days. At least one of those times, you must start your own substantial thread (a thread is a question or comment that begins a new line of discussion that is unrelated to previously posted messages).

Definition of engagement: To engage means you must offer your own comments and insights and respond thoughtfully to others as well. To engage does not mean that you just agree with someone without putting any thought into it. It means to respond in a meaningful way--to make what you say valuable to the class. The discussion forum doesn't quite replace the easy give-and-take of the classroom setting, but it can get close to it. This sort of structured interaction is absolutely necessary if this class is to truly be the equivalent of three 50-minute class periods per week.

Three engagements with each discussion forum are the minimum! One of the benefits of the discussions is that you can begin posting before you finish reading, as questions or comments occur to you. Not all your postings must be somber and thoughtful. Sometimes, you might just ask a question and explain why you think it is important. Note something that stood out to you, and try to articulate why it stood out to you. Take advantage of the format. Assume we will benefit from your reactions to the course material.

It's your discussion forum: The discussion forum is your forum, your space to air your thoughts and ideas. I will respond to questions and comments on your discussion forum once or twice a week.

Discussion Forum Starter Questions: Each lesson contains “Discussion Forum Starter Questions.” These are for you to use to get your ideas flowing or simply to get the conversation rolling. You are not required to use these questions.

For instructions on how to access the discussion forum, see Course Mechanics.

back to Requirements menu

Exams

You will write two 1,500-word papers in this course that will count as your midterm and final exams. I will e-mail you the paper topics seven days prior to their due dates. Use only the materials assigned in this course in crafting your papers (in other words, no outside sources are required or desired). If your contributions to the discussion forum will help support your argument, by all means integrate this work into your papers and cite it. Be certain to cite all your sources (and the page numbers) for quotes, information, or ideas.

Don't forget to visit the UNC Writing Center's Web site for excellent advice on all aspects of preparing, writing, and polishing your assignments.

A note on length and citation requirements: I assign length requirements by the number of words (1,500) because of the multiple ways of formatting a paper that are now available to anyone with a word processor. The easiest way to check the number of words in the paper in Microsoft Word is to click "Tools" and then "Word Count." You will find that there are roughly 275-300 words per page, if that page is double-spaced, with 12-point type and standard Microsoft word margins of 1.25 inches. You must cite the source of ideas that are not your own. Do so by putting references in parentheses (Smith, p. 205) and then listing full references at the end of your paper.

How to turn in your exams: I expect that you will write your exam papers using your word processor. Please send them to me in two formats: (1) copy and paste each exam paper into the body of an e-mail message and (2) attach an MSWord file containing your exam paper to the same e-mail message (if you do not have MSWord, please save it as an .rtf file). Put your name and the word count at the top of the paper (some e-mail addresses do not give sufficient information as to the identity of the student). I will acknowledge receipt of all exams via e-mail. If you do not receive a response from me saying that I have received your exam, do not assume that I have it.

Late exam policy: Exams are due by 10 pm on the due date noted on the course schedule. You will lose up to a full letter grade for every 24-hour period for which your exam is late. I will accept exams submitted earlier than the due date.

Museum Report

You will physically visit one art museum and write a report that will be posted to the discussion forum during Lesson 9, The Art of the Renaissance. See Museum Visit and Report for instructions. If your circumstances truly prevent you from visiting a museum, contact me well ahead of time, and I will give you an alternate assignment.

back to Requirements menu

Hints for Success

Here are some hints for doing well in this course:

1. Read each lesson carefully. In each lesson, I will provide a short introduction to the topics for the week, highlighting some of the main themes you will want to consider while reading the texts. The lessons will also contain questions to help guide your reading. Please do not answer these questions in a formal fashion (that is, don't send me your answers). However, you may certainly bring them up in the discussion forum if you like. These questions are there for you to ponder if you choose to--and if you find them helpful.
2. Read actively, not passively. Think about the discussion and reading questions as you go along--and take notes! You will be reading a lot of different materials in this course. You may want to keep a notebook to write down your thoughts and ideas and to note important passages (and page numbers) that you may want to include in your paper, discussions, or exams. In this vein, I would also recommend downloading and printing the materials that you will read on electronic reserve. That way you can also write notes in the margins and highlight important passages.
3. Look ahead. Some weeks require substantially more reading than other weeks. Plan your time accordingly.
4. Participation in the discussion forum is required. Keep the discussion in mind as you read so that you will easily come up with a contribution that will be useful to yourself and to the rest of the class.
5. Visit the UNC Writing Center's Web site and read their suggestions thoroughly. Do not fail to do this! It will make your life easier.

top of page

Honor Code

All work in HIST 151, including participation in the discussion forum, falls under UNC's Honor Code. Please contact me if you have any questions about the use of sources.

top of page

Contacting Your Instructor

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail.

NOTE: Please e-mail me during the first week of class with the following information:

1. Please confirm that you have read and that you understand all of the information about the course included in this home page (Introduction, Web Resources, Discussion Forum Participation, Required Texts and Sources, General Suggestions, Online Library Resources, Grading, Exams, Honor Code).
   
   
2. Please provide me with the following information about yourself:
1. your name
2. your phone number
3. your e-mail address
4. your mailing address
5. an indication of whether you are working toward a degree; if so, your year
6. your major/minor
7. your hobbies.

Please remember to put HIST 151 and your name in the subject line!

top of page

Course Mechanics

Blackboard

Some of your class components, such as the discussion forums and announcements, are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to login to Blackboard using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password.

There is a link to the Blackboard site in the gray navigation bar at the top of every page in this course. Click on that link, and then use your Onyen to login to Blackboard. Click on the "HIST 151" link, and you will see navigation buttons on the left side of the screen labeled Announcements, Discussion Forum, and so on.

If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, this is what you should do:  

• If you do not already have a UNC Onyen, go to the Onyen Web site and follow the instructions for creating an Onyen.
• If you have an Onyen but have forgotten it (or the password), go to the Onyen Web site.
• If your Onyen password has expired, go to the Onyen Web site and change it.
• If you have your Onyen but can't log in to Blackboard, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.
• If you can log in to Blackboard but can't find this course listed, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.
• If you can't locate an exam or discussion forum in Blackboard, contact the Instructional Designer.
• If you have other technical problems while using Blackboard, contact Blackboard Help (use the Help button in Blackboard, or call 919-962-HELP).

Library Services and E-reserves

Students enrolled in Carolina Courses Online can access online library resources from the UNC Library System by linking to Library Services for Distance Education Students. This site includes information on using general online reference works as well as accessing e-reserves.

If you are using an off-campus computer, you will need to enter your UNC Onyen and password to access the readings that are available through the e-reserve system. The UNC library staff is available to assist any students who have difficulties accessing online library resources. If you encounter difficulties, please report your problem by visiting this Web page for reporting a problem.

Using E-mail

You are responsible for checking your UNC e-mail account for messages from your instructor and the Friday Center. Off-campus users can access their UNC e-mail account using Webmail. You can have your UNC e-mail forwarded to a different e-mail address by clicking "Forward e-mail" at the Onyen Web site. Your UNC e-mail address is also the one UNC will use to alert you that you need to change your Onyen password when it is about to expire.

If you use a filter on your e-mail account, you are responsible for ensuring that it does not prevent you from receiving messages from me, the course listserv, or Friday Center staff. Hotmail users should be aware that Hotmail will block messages sent from within Blackboard because Blackboard uses "blind carbon copy" to protect privacy. We recommend that you use your UNC Onyen e-mail account rather than Hotmail for this course.

It is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to me via e-mail. If I don't receive your work, you must have a duplicate copy, indicating the date sent, to prove that you submitted the assignment on time. It is your responsibility to maintain copies of your sent e-mails, as there is no way to guarantee that any e-mail message will be delivered.

Please check your e-mail software to see how it manages sent and saved messages. Some software automatically deletes messages one month after they have been sent; others only save messages if they are filed in folders; others save messages received but not those sent. You may need to send yourself a copy of your e-mailed assignment at the same time you send it to me, or you may need to print a copy of the e-mail message and any attachments to keep in your paper files. No matter how your system works, make sure you know how to save a copy of all work that you submit to me and that you save the copy for several months beyond the end of the course.

Other Questions

If you have questions regarding

• the content of the course and your progress, contact me. There is a link to my e-mail address at the top of every lesson page. Please include "HIST 151 CCO" and your name in the subject line of your e-mail.
• problems with this Web site, including bad links, contact the Instructional Designer at the Friday Center
• enrollment, Onyen, credits, withdrawal, and so on, contact the Student Services staff at the Friday Center for Continuing Education (phone 919-962-1134 or 800-862-5669).

top of page

Course Schedule

Use this schedule to access the weekly lessons. Make a note now of the dates and times when assignments are due.

top of page

Lesson 1