History 1100-Honors
Ancient and Medieval Europe
Christopher
Oldstone-Moore
Overview and
Requirements
The fundamental goals
of this class are:
1) To become familiar with the great events and
persons of the Western past.
2) To develop a capacity for analyzing
historical evidence and expressing insights verbally and in writing.
3) To recognize more clearly the historical
influences that have shaped our own civilization.
The
study of history is about the present. It seeks answers to key questions
about ourselves, especially how we became who we are.
In
the sciences, students do what professional scientists do: they learn the laws
of nature by direct experimentation in the laboratory. Historians cannot
do that, but they can examine evidence from the past, the "primary
sources." In this course, you will "do" history in a way similar
to that of professional historians. You will look at evidence from the
past--buildings, artifacts, artworks, and especially writing of all kinds--in
order to assemble a picture of events and developments that have shaped lives
past and present. The history of Europe is formative to the experience of
modern Americans. European culture, ideas and institutions have shaped modern
America in countless ways.
Books to purchase at the bookstore
Clifford Backman, Cultures of the West,
2nd Edition, Vol. 1
Ronald Mellor, Augustus and
the Creation of the Roman Empire
Jay Rubenstein, The First
Crusade
Course materials
online
This syllabus serves as the course homepage. The schedule has links to lecture
outlines, art, additional readings and study guides.
Distractions
Laptops are banned
except for showing documents during discussion. Boredom is better than
distraction. Electronic devices are fine in general, but have the primary
effect of making us hopeless social nerds. If interaction with real humans does
not work for you, then you should go home and rethink your life.
Special Needs
If any student has a demonstrable need for special consideration
with respect to the requirements of this class they should inform the professor
immediately.
Requirements
Written Work
� Participation:
This has a verbal and written component. Discussion is the heart and soul of
this class. Students should be prepared to engage with the issues raised in
general or small group discussions. Any day that a student makes a constructive
and informed contribution is worth 3 points. The instructor will also randomly
collect homework questions in class 10 times for five points each. Each student
can earn 10 extra points for participation (for a total of 80/70). Questions
will not be accepted after class time or by email.
� Trial Brief (4 pages): Each student will have an assigned
day to participate in a trial. Students will be given extra readings in
addition to the common reading for all students. The student will adopt the
point of view contained in a reading assigned to her, and argue the question
assigned for the trial on that basis. The litigants should also read the other
presenters' readings, so that they can attempt to refute or agree with the
other points of view.
� Essay First Page and Bibliography: On the assigned due
date, each student will submit the first page (or any greater portion of the
essay) and bibliography to receive feedback from the instructor.
� Essay (5 pages): Choices for essay topics are found on
the website, along with specific instructions about structure, style and
grading.
� Three exams: Each exam will feature identifications,
short answer questions, and possibly an essay.
Due Dates
All due dates are indicated on the schedule. Students will receive
a 3-point deduction for every day that the Thesis/Outline or Essay is
late. Extensions will be granted
only in advance and in pressing circumstances.
Grading
The course is 400 points: The final grade is calculated on this
scale:
Participation |
70 pts
|
90-100% = A |
Trial Brief |
50 pts |
80-89% = B |
Essay First Page |
20 pts |
70-79% = C |
Essay |
80 pts |
60-69% = D |
Exams (x3) |
180 pts |
|