Prof. Jeff Littlejohn
Office: Brown Hall, C156
Office Phone: 823-8984
Office Hours: 9.15-11.00 m-f or appt.
Email: jeffreylittlejohn@hotmail.com
Web page: http://www.jefflittlejohn.com

Course Description:
Modern World Civilizations is the second part of a two-semester survey course on the history of world civilizations. The first part extends from pre-history and the origins of civilization to the Renaissance. History 101 continues the narrative from the 14th century to the present age. This course is designed to offer the student a broad overview of civilization over both time and space.

The study of civilization is inclusive in that it focuses on the many dimensions of human activity, among which are: laws, wars, political events, farms, industries, monetary systems, trade routes, scientific discoveries, technological advances, diets, families, cultural expressions, roads and ways of communication. This course does not concentrate on the memorization of facts, dates, or events, but it aims at helping students to understand the process and content of civilizations, to at once witness the changes that people have undergone and the traditions that they have maintained.

Attendance:
Regular attendance and punctuality are indicative of serious scholarship. You should be in class, awake and aware, and prepared for discussion. Attendance will often be taken. You will get three "mulligans," i.e. occasions on which you may miss class without penalty. You should save these in case you need them. A fourth missed class will result in a subtraction of 2 points from your semester average. A fifth missed class will cost you a further 5 points. A six missed class will result in an F for the term. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Note: Students who are regularly tardy will be denied entrance to class. After the first two weeks, if the door is closed, then do not enter the room. Class is already in progress.

Book to Purchase:
Worlds Together, Worlds Apart by Robert Tignor, et. al.

Grading:
Grading in this course will be based upon 800 possible points.
* Six topical exercises will be given during the term; each will be worth 100 points.
* Ten reading quizzes will be given during the term; each will be worth 20 points.
* The exercises may be in-class exams or out-of-class writing assignments.
* Students will have a minimum of 4 days notice before an in-class exam
* Students will have a minimum of 4 days to prepare a writing assignment.
* In figuring final grades, we will use a tiered grading system as follows:

Academic Honesty:
"'Academic or academically related misconduct' includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized collaboration or use of external information during examinations; plagiarizing or representing another's ideas as one's own; furnishing false academic information to the University; falsely obtaining, distributing, using or receiving test materials; obtaining or gaining unauthorized academic information or materials; improperly altering or inducing another to improperly alter any academic record; or engaging in any conduct which is intended or reasonably likely to confer upon one's self or another an unfair advantage or unfair benefit respecting an academic or academic matter."

Any violation of the University's Academic Honesty standards will result in a failing grade and a recommendation for University discipline.


MEETING TOPICS AND READINGS

All chapter readings are from Tignor, et. al., Worlds Together, Worlds Apart. I reserve the right to add readings, movies, or other assignments to this list at a later date.

Week I, Jan 13-17: Introduction and Background
Reading: Begin reading Chapter One

Week II, Jan 20-24: The Worlds of 1300
Reading: Chapter One

Week III, Jan 27-31: Crisis and Recovery in Eurasia, 1300s-1500s
Reading: Chapter Two

EXERCISE ONE

Week IV, Feb 3-Feb 7: Contact, Commerce, and Colonization, 1450s-1600
Reading: Chapter Three

Week V, Feb 10-Feb 14: Worlds Entangled, 1600-1750
Reading: Chapter Four

EXERCISE TWO

Week VI, Feb 17-Feb 21: Cultures of Splendor and Power, 1600-1780
Reading: Chapter Five

Week VII, Feb 24-Feb 28: Reordering the World, 1750-1850
Reading: Chapter Six

Week VIII, Mar 3-Mar 7: Open Week
Reading: Open Week to Finish First Six Chapters

EXERCISE THREE

Spring Break, March 10 through March 14

Week IX, Mar 17-Mar 21: Alternative Visions of the Nineteenth Century
Reading: Chapter Seven

Week X, Mar 24-Mar 28: Nations and Empires
Reading: Chapter Eight

Week XI, March 31-April 4: An Unsettled World, 1890-1914
Reading: Chapter Nine

EXERCISE FOUR

Week XII, April 7-April 11: Of Masses and Visions of the Modern, 1910-1939
Reading: Chapter Ten

EXERCISE FIVE

Week XIII, April 14-April 18: The Three World Order, 1940-1975
Reading: Chapter Eleven

Week XIV, April 21-April 25: The Three World Order Continued

Week XV, April 28-May 2: Globalization

EXERCISE SIX